Andrew Symonds

New Zealand Registered Architects Board

The New Zealand Registered Architects Board is a statutory entity that: - registers New Zealand's architects who have been assessed by their peers as competent - confirms every five years that New Zealand's architects continue to be competent - maintains an online New Zealand Architects Register (www.nzrab.org.nz) - investigates complaints and, if need be, disciplines New Zealand's architects. This is done to protect the public, which in turn protects the reputation of the architectural profession. The NZRAB gains its authority from the Registered Architects Act 2005, the NZRAB's stated purpose in the Act being "to protect the title of Registered Architect". Under Section 7 of the Act, in New Zealand no one except a New Zealand Registered Architect can use the title "Registered Architect"; or describe him or herself as an "architect" when providing building design services. Other persons may design buildings, but they may not call themselves "Registered Architects" or "architects". Section 50 of the Act lays out the NZRAB's functions. The Registered Architects Rules 2006 provide further details on how this works. The rules also specify a code of ethics that binds architects. The NZRAB Board members are appointed by the Governor General on the advice of the Minister for Building and Construction. Half the Board members are nominated to the Minister by the New Zealand Institute of Architects Inc. The NZRAB maintains a small office in Wellington, with six staff (FTE 5.8). The NZRAB is reliant on around 50 registration assessors who are senior architects, their principal task being to assess applicants for registration and continuing registration. The NZRAB is fully funded from fees paid by architects and registration applicants.