The man taking on responsibility of putting kiwifruit industry workers back into employment knows what it's like to lose his job to Psa.

Marty Robinson was working as an orchard manager in Paengaroa, on an orchard he part-owns, but found himself without a job in November when Psa took over.

Marty Robinson is keeping kiwifruit workers employed.

'It breaks your heart – all the ooze.
'We've cut out about 90 per cent of the orchard.”
The bacterial disease, which is killing kiwifruit vines throughout the Bay of Plenty and beyond, is seeing many people like Marty lose their jobs, but the industry is intent on holding on to their skills and knowledge.
Marty, who has done human resources work in the past, has just been appointed by New Zealand Kiwifruit Growers Incorporated as the employment coordinator for the Bay of Plenty, in an effort to retain the skilled kiwifruit workers.
'When our orchard down-sized we lost about three managers and six supervisors and key staff.
'One went to Alexandra, one went to Hawke's Bay – they didn't have a viable option here at the time.”
That is what the industry wants to stop and Marty is going to provide the link between employers and potential employees.
He says at this stage they are still expecting more than two thirds of the normal crop to be harvested this season and there are jobs available.
'At this stage there is still going to be about 90 million trays.
'There are jobs in the packhouses; they need quality control officers, forklift drivers, line managers, along with roles out in the field during harvest for tractor drivers, auditors and supervisory roles.
'If growers re-graft in winter there is going to be a lot of work.
'Developing orchards require more man hours than producing orchards.”
The number of jobs could change yet though, with the rain during December and January seeing more effects of Psa.
'We're still two months away from picking. With all the rain, we're more nervous than we were; we could still end up 30-40 per cent down on last year's crop.
'The worst case scenario for us is if Psa drops the harvest to half in the next year or two, people will have to leave the industry and the region.
'Then we will have to up-skill hundreds of new staff to build the industry up again when it recovers.”
Marty says the workers, their skills and knowledge, are an asset the industry can't afford to lose.
'The kiwifruit industry workers have highly skilled jobs, right from on-orchard plant care to quality control and distribution.
'It's going to come right in a couple of years.
'If we can maintain all our skilled staff in the industry, then there is going to be more work when the orchards regrow.”
He says in the meantime, it is a chance for many workers to the take the opportunity to up-skill.
'A lot of workers are semi-skilled or skilled in packhouse and orchard operation, but won't have the paperwork skills or formal qualifications.
'This is a chance for them to do some up-skilling courses.
'We have been working with the Bay of Plenty Polytechnic, the Hort ITO and other providers, and they are going to have new courses to help meet the needs of the industry.”
Marty will also be working with Literacy Aotearoa to further help up-skill the kiwifruit industry workers. The role, which is funded by the Ministry of Social Development, will focus on meeting the skill and labour needs of employers in the kiwifruit industry by matching them with those who have lost their jobs as a result of Psa.
New Zealand Kiwifruit Growers Incorporated chief executive Mike Chapman says the new role is an essential one and was created in an effort to proactively manage the impact of Psa on employment.
'The sad reality of Psa is people will lose their jobs.
'We want to do all we can to keep these skilled New Zealand workers in the Bay of Plenty as their experience is a key part of the success of the industry.
'Creating this role is a way of using industry networks to know where workers have been made redundant and where other employment opportunities in the industry exist.”
Marty has more than 18 years of experience in the kiwifruit industry; as an orchardist, orchard manager and in human resources roles.
'I know there are some very skilled and experienced people who have lost their jobs as a result of Psa – we don't want to lose these people from the industry or even the region.
'By talking to employers and knowing where vacancies exist, and what particular skills are needed, we can match people to employment opportunities.”
For employees and employers wanting to know more about the service, phone Marty on (07) 574 7139 or 029 770 9874 or email [email protected]