Institution of Professional Engineers New Zealand

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Engineering New Zealand Te Ao Rangahau
Engineering New Zealand Te Ao Rangahau
Formation1914 (New Zealand Society of Civil Engineers)
TypeProfessional body
Location
Members22,000[1]
President
Kennie Tsui[2]
Chief Executive
Richard Templer[3]
Staff80
Websitewww.engineeringnz.org

Engineering New Zealand (Māori: Te Ao Rangahau) is a non-profit professional body that upholds professional engineering standards in Aotearoa New Zealand, advocates for engineers, and provides advice to the engineering industry.[4]

Engineering New Zealand is responsible for accrediting engineering education programmes in New Zealand[5] and is the Registration Authority for Chartered Professional Engineers (CPEng) in New Zealand.[6]

Membership provides several benefits for engineers in Aotearoa:

  • Credibility: Enhanced professional reputation, new career opportunities and being perceived as trusted leaders.
  • Connection: Members are part of an inclusive, supportive and connected network.
  • Career growth: Access courses, events, online learning and leadership training – plus practical tools and resources to support day-to-day work and long-term goals.
  • Purpose and pride: Members play a part in shaping a better Aotearoa – where their work contributes to climate action, community wellbeing and a stronger future.
  • Advocacy: Being a member means having a voice in the issues that matter – from building systems reform to the overhaul of resource management. Engineering New Zealand advocates for the profession, influences systems and upholds the standards that build public trust.

History

The first professional engineering body in New Zealand, the Institute of Local Government Engineers of New Zealand, was formed in 1912. The following year the New Zealand Society of Civil Engineers was formed. The two bodies merged in 1914 and were known under the later name until 1937.[7]

The organisation changed its name to The New Zealand Institution of Engineers in 1937.[8] In 1959 the Association of Consulting Engineers New Zealand (ACENZ) was created as a consultancy division, and became a separate entity in 1970. The name Institution of Professional Engineers New Zealand (IPENZ) was adopted in 1982.[8][9]

In 1989, IPENZ became a founding signatory to the Washington Accord.[8][10]

In 2002, the Chartered Professional Engineers of New Zealand Act 2002 gave IPENZ the designation "Registration Authority", making them responsible for the registration, complaints and disciplinary processes of Chartered Professional Engineers (CPEng) in New Zealand.[6][11]

In 2017, the organisation changed its name to Engineering New Zealand to reflect a significant shift in strategic direction.[8] It retains the legal name "Institution of Professional Engineers New Zealand".[4][12]

In 2018, the organisation adopted the Māori name Te Ao Rangahau (which roughly translates as "the world of engineering").[13]

Upholding standards

Tertiary program accreditation

Engineering New Zealand is a signatory to the Washington Accord, Sydney Accord and Dublin Accord. As a signatory, Engineering New Zealand is responsible for accrediting four-year engineering degrees (Washington Accord), three-year engineering technology degrees (Sydney Accord) and two-year engineering diplomas (Dublin Accord) in New Zealand. These programmes are internationally recognised under their respective accords.[5][14][15] Engineering New Zealand also recognises qualifications from other signatories.[16]

Chartered Professional Engineer

Engineering New Zealand is the Registration Authority for Chartered Professional Engineers (CPEng) in New Zealand, as delegated by the Chartered Professional Engineers of New Zealand Act 2002. As the Registration Authority, they are responsible for assessing engineers as well as managing the complaints and disciplinary processes.[6][11][17]

Growing the pipeline of engineers

The Wonder Project

The Wonder Project is Engineering New Zealand's industry-led STEM education initiative. It's designed to inspire rangatahi (young people) with STEM across the critical years of their school experience, and to encourage them into STEM careers.[18]

It includes successive programmes aligned to the New Zealand Curriculum, which are fun, hands-on, engaging and accessible so they resonate with all ākonga (students), and especially girls, Māori and Pacific Peoples.[19][20][21]

The Diversity Agenda

Engineering New Zealand is a Founding Partner and Accord Signatory of The Diversity Agenda – a joint initiative between Engineering New Zealand, the Association of Consulting Engineers New Zealand and Te Kāhui Whaihanga New Zealand Institute of Architects. The Diversity Agenda encourages firms working in engineering and architecture to become more diverse and inclusive through awareness, empowerment and action. Membership as an Accord Signatory provides access to a range of resources, events, tools and tips.[22]

Fellowships and awards

Engineering New Zealand elects Fellows and Distinguished Fellows annually.[23][24]

Notable Distinguished Fellows include:

Notable Fellows include:

Other major awards programmes run by Engineering New Zealand include the biennual ENVI Awards.[26] and biennial Auckland Branch Awards[27]. Other awards, scholarships and grants are offered through the Engineering New Zealand Foundation[28].

Presidents

See also

References

  1. "Engineering New Zealand Membership Survey". Engineering New Zealand. 15 March 2022. Archived from the original on 30 May 2022. Retrieved 24 November 2025.
  2. "Kennie-Tsui-Welcomed-as-President". Engineering New Zealand. 20 March 2026. Retrieved 7 May 2026.
  3. "Leadership Team". Engineering New Zealand. Retrieved 19 April 2021.
  4. "What We Do". Engineering New Zealand. Archived from the original on 31 July 2025. Retrieved 24 November 2025.
  5. "Manual for the accreditation of engineering education programmes" (PDF). Engineering New Zealand. May 2024. Archived from the original (PDF) on 24 November 2025. Retrieved 24 November 2025.
  6. "Chartered Professional Engineers of New Zealand Act 2002". New Zealand Legistlation. Retrieved 24 November 2025.
  7. Blakeley, J (2016). "Development of engineering qualifications in New Zealand: a brief history" (PDF). Unitec Occasional and Discussion Paper Series. 1: 1–21.
  8. Berry, Rachel. "The evolution of Engineering New Zealand". Engineering Insight. Vol. 18/4, no. August/September 2017. Engineering New Zealand. p. 18.
  9. NZ Institution changes its name Engineers Australia 19 March 1982 page 8
  10. "Washington Accord Signatories". International Engineering Alliance. Archived from the original on 8 August 2023. Retrieved 8 August 2023.
  11. "Registration Authority". Registration Authority for Chartered Professional Engineers. Archived from the original on 13 August 2025. Retrieved 24 November 2025.
  12. "IPENZ transforms into Engineering New Zealand". DEMM Engineering & Manufacturing. Adrenalin Publishing. 17 October 2017. Archived from the original on 2 February 2018. Retrieved 24 November 2025.
  13. "Te Ao Rangahau | Engineering New Zealand".
  14. "Bachelor of Engineering (Honours)". University of Auckland. Archived from the original on 19 August 2025. Retrieved 24 November 2025.
  15. "Bachelor of Engineering with Honours". University of Canterbury. Archived from the original on 19 August 2025. Retrieved 24 November 2025.
  16. "Engineering in New Zealand: Qualifications and Registration Guide". Working In New Zealand. Archived from the original on 31 January 2025. Retrieved 24 November 2025.
  17. "Complaint upheld against engineering firm over CTV building collapse". Stuff. 12 August 2025. Retrieved 24 November 2025.
  18. "The Wonder Project – Getting kiwi kids excited about STEM". The Wonder Project. Retrieved 1 July 2026.
  19. "Power to pupils as Clendon Park School students win Engineering NZ Wonder Project challenge". New Zealand Herald. 27 December 2023. Archived from the original on 28 December 2023. Retrieved 25 November 2025.
  20. "STEM in blast-off mode". Education Gazette. Vol. 98, no. 19. Ministry of Education (New Zealand). 8 November 2019. Archived from the original on 22 September 2023. Retrieved 25 November 2025.
  21. "Kiwi kids' STEM education at risk". New Zealand Engineering News. Hayley Media. 14 January 2025. Archived from the original on 22 January 2025. Retrieved 25 November 2025.
  22. "Home - The Diversity Agenda". diversityagenda.org. 23 November 2023. Retrieved 1 July 2026.
  23. "Past winners". Engineering New Zealand. Retrieved 28 March 2024.
  24. "Computer Scientists announced as Fellows of Engineering New Zealand". Victoria University of Wellington. 19 December 2022. Archived from the original on 9 March 2023. Retrieved 24 November 2025.
  25. "Otago announces 29 new professors". University of Otago. 12 December 2023. Archived from the original on 22 January 2024. Retrieved 24 November 2025.
  26. "UC shines at ENVI Awards for Excellence in Engineering". University of Canterbury. 29 July 2025. Archived from the original on 9 August 2025. Retrieved 24 November 2025.
  27. "2026 Auckland Branch Awards | Engineering New Zealand". www.engineeringnz.org. Retrieved 1 July 2026.
  28. "Foundation | Engineering New Zealand". www.engineeringnz.org. Retrieved 1 July 2026.
  29. "Gerry Te Kapa Coates: no ordinary president". e.nz Magazine. 4/3: 4–5. May–June 2003. ISSN 1175-2025.