Training Adviser supports work visa holders to grow their futures
4 April 2025
Adapting to life in another country is something Training Adviser Martina knows all about. After arriving in New Zealand on a working holiday visa over ten years ago, she has come full circle, now supporting work visa learners studying with Primary ITO.
Growing up in the Czech Republic, Martina Balasova dreamed of traveling overseas as a nanny. She initially worked as au pair in the U.K. before moving to the United States, where she worked for two years. After traveling to New Zealand on a working holiday visa, she landed a job at a kiwifruit orchard in the Bay of Plenty.
Martina says, "while working at the kiwifruit orchard, I fell in love with horticulture.
“The kiwi accent is quite distinctive - it took me about two weeks of listening to the radio to get used to it.”
After completing a horticulture and business diploma, she was promoted into a management role working for a kiwifruit contractor. Later, Martina worked in a packhouse and signed up for post-harvest training through Primary ITO.
Following a move with her son to Auckland to live with her partner, she spotted an advert for a Training Adviser role at Primary ITO. She has now worked in the role for almost four years, looking after horticulture learners from Warkworth north of Auckland, down to the Waikato River.
Martina presents a Level 2 certificate to Kalei Morgan-Tafea, with assessor Wendy Watts (left).
A typical week involves travel and providing support for learners and employers at their workplaces. She pops along to local careers expos to help promote primary industry careers and attends industry events and skills competitions.
Last year she became a board member of the Young Horticulturist of the Year competition.
Martina is excited to start supporting a new Primary ITO horticulture cadetship programme launching in Pukekohe in May.
“This project will involve verifying and marking assessments. It’s a great opportunity to assist employers who may not have time to handle the verification process themselves. This will speed up the assessments for learners.”
Martina also looks after twenty-six learners who are living in New Zealand on a work visa. They are all working in horticulture operations and studying towards a New Zealand Certificate in Horticulture Production through Primary ITO. Some are taking English classes, and Martina works to ensure they understand what is required to complete training through Primary ITO.
Rohit Kumar is completing his New Zealand Certificate in Horticulture Production (Level 4), while working at Sharma Produce, in Takanini. Rohit grew up in India, before traveling to Australia to work for 10 years. He came to New Zealand on a work visa two and a half years ago.
Rohit says his Training Adviser, Martina, is very supportive.
“I wanted to do this qualification to understand technically and scientifically what to do and how to do things. Martina always helps us when we are stuck on a question or don’t understand what it is asking. She will direct us to read this or that, or to find information on the internet.”
Rohit says it is more economical to study through Primary ITO compared to other options.
He is expecting to complete his level 4 qualification in 2025 and plans to undertake further study and apply for another work visa in 2026.
Martina attending the 2025 Franklin Schools Career Expo, with Training Advisers Charlie Peterson and Stephen Griffiths.
Martina says, “the value of training with Primary ITO is that you can do it while you are working. The difference in price is huge for someone who needs a qualification to apply for their next work visa.
“The study relates to what they are doing in the workplace on a daily basis. They get that practical experience and knowledge and come out with a recognised qualification.”
Martina has just completed an adult teaching qualification herself, so she understands the juggle of work, study and home life. She credits the support from her Primary ITO colleagues as invaluable.
Find information on Primary ITO horticulture training programmes on our website here. This includes fee information for work visa learners under the ‘non-funded fee’ section.