From Kiaido Ryu martial arts sensei to Te Arawa Fisheries’ newest team member, Bill Matthews epitomises the mantra that if you believe in yourself, you can do anything.
Bill joins Te Arawa Fisheries as the Sales, Marketing & Logistics Co-ordinator, focusing on growing the new mussel brand Hī in national and international markets.
Born in Rotorua, Bill says he has always had a connection to the area and feels deeply honoured to come back and be a part of Te Arawa Fisheries.
“I was drawn back to the Bay of Plenty a couple years ago and since then, I have been on a journey to learn about and understand te reo Māori and my whakapapa.
“I am big on energy; the energy you give off affects the people around you. I always want to inspire people and influence people in a positive way.
“I am highly motivated and strive to meet the highest standards I can. I am a strong believer that with a little self-belief, anyone can do anything.”
Bill has a wide range of experience in sales and interpersonal communication and was told about the position by fellow Te Arawa Fisheries employee, Anthony Palmer.
“Hī had already piqued my interests from previous conversations with Anthony so when he told me about the role and said I’d be a good fit, I thought ‘why not’.
“I think what really sets me apart is my practical, real world experience – I am able to turn my head to all sorts of things and I’m always open to learning new skills.”
In his spare time, one of Bill’s greatest passions is practicing and teaching Kiaido Ryu martial arts.
A third degree black belt sensei, Bill says he is following a tikanga path and loves passing on his knowledge to everyone around him.
