Eva Banks
Nursery Technician - Moana New Zealand
When Eva Banks finished Year 13 at Nelson College for Girls, she already had her next step lined up — a job as a nursery technician with Moana New Zealand in Nelson.
Her journey began with a willingness to explore every opportunity that came her way.
“It started a couple of years ago when I began attending careers days,” Eva says.
“I signed up for everything I could — I went to building sites, spent time with DOC, and got out on a boat visiting marine farms. Although those days meant missing some school, they were totally worth it. They gave me a taste of so many different things.”
After trying out a range of options, aquaculture stood out — though Eva wasn’t sure she was ready for work on the water just yet.
“The next year, I went on another careers day and chose to visit land-based aquaculture operations. At Moana New Zealand I saw algae production — and I was that annoying kid who asked a million questions!” she laughs.
Eva followed up with Kirsten Norfield, Workforce Implementation Lead at Aquaculture New Zealand, to ask about work experience opportunities. Soon after, she spent three days at Moana New Zealand during the school holidays, working across the hatchery and nursery, and observing algae production.
“It was really cool seeing the process. I even got to tip spat into the grading machine,” she says.
From there, her enthusiasm grew.
“I kept talking to my teachers and careers advisors about getting into aquaculture,” she says.
That led to Eva joining the Gateway Programme, which helps students transition from school to work. For three terms, she spent one day a week at Moana NZ—and loved every minute of it.
By the end of the year she had not only won the school prize for 2025 Gateway but Moana also offered her a full-time role.
“I wash down the spat every morning and turn the feeder on. There’s lots of water-blasting, and in winter I clean the ponds,” Eva explains.
So — has the job been what she expected?
“I didn’t expect there to be so much maths,” she admits, “but I’m managing. I can definitely see myself having a career in aquaculture — even if it’s in a different species one day, like salmon.”
Her advice to others considering the industry is simple:
“Say yes to everything. Don’t stop asking questions. Take the initiative.”
Eva (right) and Dayle Snowden (left)
“Say yes to everything. Don’t stop asking questions. Take the initiative.”