Jobs a casualty in NZTE streamlining

By PAULA OLIVER

Jobs will be lost as a result of management changes at New Zealand Trade & Enterprise - but the man in charge is adamant his organisation will be more effective as a result.

NZTE chief executive Tim Gibson, who yesterday received a significant funding boost from the Government, hinted last year that a new strategy was being worked on and changes were likely.

A review of the overseas offices inherited from Trade New Zealand was being done, and the physical job of bringing the two lots of staff together was to be completed.

Yesterday Gibson told staff across the country, and overseas through a video presentation, of a more streamlined management structure.

It will mean 29 jobs will be lost. Longer term, up to 60 could go as the organisation reshapes.

The main thrust of the change is the setting up of category teams that will also work across appropriate geographic areas - which Gibson said meant the operation would be more integrated and focused than it had been before.

For example, the general manager of Investment New Zealand, Don Christiansen, will also be responsible for Europe and the Middle East.

The general manager of biotechnology and information and communications technology will be responsible for both North and South America.

The general manager of wood processing, food and beverage and education would be aligned with North Asia, and the person in charge of niche manufacturing, tourism and creative industries aligned with South Asia.

A new position, general manager of capability development, has been created and will be filled shortly. That person will be involved with frontline services for New Zealand exporters, such as the online and phone hotline services.

NZTE works with about 2500 clients a year for significant periods. Of those, about 500 are intense interactions and 1500 will be covered by the new capability development manager.

Gibson believes that those 1500 can be dealt with faster and better. Third parties could be increasingly called on to advise those clients.

But he was adamant that did not mean that the services provided to those 1500 would be any less than what they were now.

The job losses will be partly covered by natural attrition. The organisation has been carrying vacancies in expectation of the changes.

The results of the review of overseas offices have been received, but public announcements on that appear unlikely.

NZTE has 38 offices and about 140 staff in other countries. Some of those offices are likely to move and some will gradually reduce in size.