Nelson - Whakatū / Tasman - Te Tai-o-Aorere
New Zealand’s largest fishing port and a region with significant inshore, deepwater and aquaculture activity. Between them, Shane and Amba have a wealth of experience that you can draw on to help with anything that’s bothering you.
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Local Navigators
Amba Blommart-Klay
Nelson - Whakatū / Tasman - Te Tai-o-Aorere
I am currently a Contractor working in the electronic monitoring field. I have been involved with various projects based in the inshore fishing fleet over the past five years. Prior to this I was part of the Observer Programme for six years and this is where my involvement in the fishing industry began. Before this I worked at Cawthron as a Senior Lab Technician. The fishing industry has captivated me on a work and personal level, and I am keen to give back, and be part of something positive. It's a tough industry no matter where you sit within it.
It’s so vast and varied and has so much to offer. The Navigator role is a positive addition to the fishing industry and its people and I’m proud to be a part of it and look forward to meeting fishers and their families. I am based in sunny Nelson and like so many other parts of NZ have a fishing industry on my doorstep. I want to see that industry thrive, and I look forward to supporting all of us within it, however I can.
Leanne Guard
Nelson - Whakatū | Tasman - Te Tai-o-Aorere
I am proud to be a member of the Guard family dynasty, who have been fishing in New Zealand waters for 196 years. My uncles, brother and father have all been heavily involved in commercial fishing. My QSM-awarded grandfather Jack Guard was a boat builder on 100 working vessels over his career.
For several years, I was involved in the Black Petrel and Tarakihi projects at Nelson-based Guard Safety, which I found very rewarding.
I have a keen interest in mental health and the holistic wellbeing of workers in the fishing sector, having grown up in a generational fishing family.
I know it’s easy to get lost in the pressures and dynamics of our industry. That’s why we need to have each other’s backs.
I am available for a chat about anything that’s bothering you, and if you need more help than I can give, I’ll know where to find that for you.
Glenn Thomas
Motueka
I have been a registered physiotherapist for more than 20 years. I have extensive clinical occupational physiotherapy experience across the food processing, horticultural and agricultural industries. I am also experienced in health promotion and health service development, non-clinically, within men’s health, Māori health, mental health and community development.
A substantial percentage of those working in the seafood sector have been through some form of pain, strains or sprains. The health system can often be a challenge to navigate in order to get the right advice and support, that’s why as a professional health navigator I am here to answer health-related questions for you, your crew and whānau.
I can provide free initial online support nationally or face-to-face for people in the Nelson/Tasman region.
If I can’t help, or if your health issue may not be physiotherapy-related, then I can help connect you to local and relevant health services that can. Don’t stay in pain when help is only a call away.
Appointments can be made by calling FirstMate on 0800 237 438.
Call 0800 ADRIFT for support any day between 7am and 10pm or email info@firstmate.org.nz to access the support you need. We also have a growing library of free resources available for you to access on our website.
