Luhan Arangies
“With a solid qualification and experience, there are endless opportunities in aquaculture,” he says. “It’s hard work, but if you stick with it, you can progress quickly.””
Assistant Farm Manager Level 5 Diploma in Aquaculture, Nelson Marlborough Institute of Technology (NMIT)
At just 13, Luhan’s passion for aquaculture was sparked by a television segment about a boy farming stingrays in Thailand. Inspired by the idea, he set his sights on a career in the industry. Originally from South Africa, Luhan moved to Nelson in 2018 to study aquaculture at Nelson Marlborough Institute of Technology (NMIT). With the support of his family and a dream born years earlier, he was determined to turn his passion into a career.
Luhan completed both Level 4 and Level 5 of the Aquaculture Diploma, finding the hands-on, practical learning experience particularly rewarding.
“I’ve never really excelled in school, but this course just made sense to me,” he says, “It felt real and enjoyable.”
After graduating in 2019, Luhan joined Sanford as a fish feeder at their salmon farm near Stewart Island / Rakiura. Within a year, he moved into a supervisor position, eventually becoming Shift Supervisor for the next four years. A few months ago, Luhan saw an exciting opportunity to join High Country Salmon, where the company is rebuilding its entire farm. He was eager to be part of the project.
Luhan’s true passion lies in the fish. “Watching them grow from tiny larvae to the five kilo salmon we harvest, it’s incredibly fulfilling,” he says.
His role at High Country Salmon feels like a natural step up from supervisor to manager. While still being hands on and outdoors, he’s gaining valuable leadership experience.
As part of his career growth, Luhan is benefiting from AQNZ’s new Mentoring and Coaching programme, funded by the Food and Fibre Centre of Vocational Excellence (Food and Fibre CoVE), which is designed to retain emerging leaders in the industry.
Looking ahead, Luhan sees himself continuing to grow, ideally in a management position.
“With a solid qualification and experience, there are endless opportunities in aquaculture,” he says. “It’s hard work, but if you stick with it, you can progress quickly.”