Stella Mackrell
“Having a passionate mindset and a good attitude is the biggest asset in this industry — don’t be defined by your degree, or lack of one.”
Aquaculture Technician Level 8 Postgraduate Diploma in Sustainable Aquaculture Nelson Marlborough Institute of Technology (NMIT)
Bachelor of Science and Bachelor of Arts (University of Auckland)
Although Stella Mackrell grew up in Auckland city, she has always been drawn to the water. She played underwater hockey throughout school, eventually representing New Zealand and winning gold at the 2025 Intercontinental Championships in Malaysia.
Stella completed both an Arts and a Science degree simply because she loved both disciplines. But it was a Fisheries and Aquaculture paper that truly sparked her interest.
“We missed some field trips because of Covid, so to make up for it we went to the university’s Leigh Marine Laboratory. I saw scientists examining Greenshell™ mussel spat, and that really captured my attention,” she says.
After graduating, Stella explored opportunities in aquaculture and was selected as a BLAKE NIWA Aquaculture Ambassador, securing an internship at NIWA’s Bream Bay aquaculture facility working with the kingfish farming programme.
“That reinforced my passion for aquaculture, and I knew it was the sector I wanted to work in.”
When a role came up as an aquaculture technician for Te Huata Mussels, Stella immediately recognised the potential of the project. Based at the Cawthron Aquaculture Park in Nelson, she now contributes to research and the development of operational processes for the new hatchery.
“My work is helping to inform the design and operation of Te Huata’s mussel spat hatchery being built in Te Kaha, in the rohe of Te Whānau-ā-Apanui,” she says.
She is excited about eventually working in a purpose-built, fully scaled hatchery.
“There are so many opportunities for improvement, particularly around mussel retention in a hatchery setting,” Stella says. “Right now, we’re quite confined in what we can test, so it will be cool — and challenging — to work in a brand-new facility.”
Eager to keep expanding her skills while the hatchery is still a year or so away from completion, Stella recently completed a postgraduate aquaculture diploma at NMIT.
She believes there are many entry points for anyone wanting to join the aquaculture industry, especially as more hatcheries come online.
“Having a passionate mindset and a good attitude is the biggest asset in this industry — don’t be defined by your degree, or lack of one.”