We all want a regulatory system that keeps New Zealanders as safe as possible. A system that engineers and the public can trust. But high-profile failures have undermined public trust and confidence. The current regime doesn’t provide enough assurance that engineers are working within their competence.
There’s been a lot of talk about change over the past 10 years. Rather than wait any longer for regulatory change, we want to improve what’s under our control now. There are multiple risks in the systems engineers work in – fixing CPEng won't resolve every problem or risk, but we need to do what we can.
Our proposals include raising the standard of CPEng by making changes to the assessment and reassessment processes.
They also include introducing classes of CPEng that set clear competence requirements for specific disciplines and have their own postnominal; for example, CPEng (Structural) or CPEng (Fire). This would set a higher bar, developed in conjunction with technical groups.
And we’re proposing changes to the complaints and appeals process that will make them more efficient and proportionate.
At the same time, we want to make the general CPEng a respected quality mark that engineers of all disciplines strive for, with space for every professional engineer.
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Your feedback (March 2021)
Feedback generally supported the review’s proposals. This included strong support for:
- changes to the assessments process
- the removal of the six-yearly reassessment process
- and discipline-specific registration.
Your detailed feedback about the potential implications of those changes has been very helpful. It will be taken into account as we plan implementation.
The feedback reinforces the urgency of this work.
We are proceeding with a first phase that includes changes to CPEng assessments and reassessments, and separating the Registration Authority function and governance more clearly from Engineering New Zealand.
While we’ve planned subsequent phases, we are waiting to see the scope and timeframe of MBIE’s proposed reforms of how engineers are regulated before progressing them.
The CPEng Review feedback will not only support us we work to strengthen CPEng but will also inform our ongoing work to support Engineering New Zealand membership, the occupational regulation of engineers and general professional services.
