Advocating for you

Building and Construction 

We have met with Hon. Chris Penk to discuss our position on professional regulation – namely that we advocate for a regulatory system for engineering professionals that protects the public. Although changes to regulation are unlikely for the foreseeable future, we can still make progress. This includes changing the Chartered Professional Engineers Rules, which the Minister supported in principle.

Dam safety

Together with the New Zealand Society of Large Dams, we submitted on the Ministry of Business, Innovation and Employment’s targeted consultation to reduce the regulation thresholds for classifiable dams. Our submission highlighted our concern with these proposals; instead recommending a longer timeframe for implementation.

Transport, Local Government, and Energy

The Transportation Group joined us in meeting Hon. Simeon Brown. We advised our position on the draft Government Policy Statement – Land Transport – namely that we support the outcomes but are concerned stated priorities run counter to realising those outcomes. We also discussed the ongoing need for water reform and urgent need for certainty about projects.

Education

Tertiary reforms

We met with Hon. Penny Simmonds, Minister for Tertiary Education and Skills to discuss the Government’s plans for tertiary sector reforms. She was keen to understand what worked well between Engineering New Zealand and the workforce development councils, so that reforms could maintain some of the momentum achieved.

Science, technology, engineering and maths education

Our open letter to Hon. Erica Standford, Minister for Education was signed by several large firms and all associations representing engineers within New Zealand. It highlighted our concerns with science, technology, engineering and maths education in New Zealand and the deepening skills shortage.

Briefings to incoming Ministers

Briefings to Incoming Ministers can be found on the website.

What's coming?

Advocacy work will continue to be busy over coming months, including:

• Fast-track Approvals Bill – submissions due 19 April
• Long-term skill shortages – publication of research with Waihanga Ara Rau and ACE New Zealand
• Infrastructure – monitoring the pipeline of infrastructure work, as well as the Government’s work to develop the National Infrastructure Agency
• Water funding legislation – expected soon.

Get involved

We want your input into our submissions and work – get involved by emailing hello@engineeringnz.org.

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