Press Release - Archive 2005

Engineers Launch Plan for Economic Development

Tuesday, 13 December 2005

A plan to return New Zealand’s economic performance to the top half of the Organisation of Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD) has been launched by the Institution of Professional Engineers New Zealand (IPENZ). Prosperity through Productivity – a Plan of Action identifies the government’s Growth and Innovation Framework as being inadequate to bring New Zealand into parity with countries which have been traditionally seen as economic peers.

New Qualification for ICT Professionals Meets their Needs

Tuesday, 1 November 2005

Massey University and the University of Canterbury are collaborating to deliver a new work-based postgraduate certificate developed for the Information and Communications Technology sector from February 2006. The intended outcome is for participants to attain a higher level of professional competence earlier in their careers.

President's Tour of Branches
Monday, 5 September 2005
It is essential to encourage students to take engineering not only as a degree subject, but also as a career option if we don’t want to suffer from a skills shortage of engineers in the future, says Roly Frost, Institution of Professional Engineers New Zealand (IPENZ) 2005 President. He will be in visiting IPENZ Branches starting in Invercargill on Monday, 12 September 2005. See details of tour.

Jenny Ang IPENZ Director - Operations
Monday, 29 August 2005
Jenny Ang has been appointed the Director–Operations for the Institution of Professional Engineers (IPENZ).

First Woman to Head Engineering at NZ University
Wednesday, 10 August 2005
IPENZ Fellow, associate Professor Janis Swan has been appointed Associate Dean of Engineering at the University of Waikato. Her appointment is a first for a woman heading the development of engineering studies at a New Zealand University. She says she is looking forward to continuing the excellence in Engineering education that has developed at the university.

Engineering innovation focus of lecture
Wednesday, 10 August 2005
Engineering innovation is the focus of the annual Hopkins Lecture which takes place at the Christchurch Town Hall next week.
The event is jointly hosted by the University of Canterbury and the Canterbury Branch of the Institution of Professional Engineers New Zealand and funded by the Hopkins Trust.

Pickering Lecture Series

Tsunami in the Waikato?
Tuesday, 2 August 2005
In 1960 Mercury Bay and Whitianga both experienced freak waves measuring over two metres, but nothing compares to the 15th century at Otama/Opito where a wave of between five and 10 metres hit, or the 20-30 metres high wave that reached the West Waikato coast. Tsunamis have come in the past and they will come again to the region in the future says Tsunami expert Dr James Goff.

Tsunami – coming to the Bay of Plenty says experts
Monday, 1 August 2005
Opotiki, Waihi, and Ohiwa harbour all show evidence of tsunami action dating back to the 1400s, but further back in history - 2900-3000 years ago - Tauriko experienced a wave that travelled seven km inland says Tsunami expert Dr James Goff. Tsunamis have come in the past and they will come again to the region in the future he says.

Tsunami – missed Napier once – but what about next time?
Monday, 1 August 2005
You know the story - At 10.47am on 3 February 1931, a violent shock followed closely by a second rocked Hawke's Bay for almost three minutes. Instead of the ground subsiding large chunks of land rose thereby saving the city from any Tsunami occurring.
However, Dr Alastair Barnett, FIPENZ says the story could have been so different if the land had subsided.

Gisborne Tsunami – it's happened before
Monday, 1 August 2005
Gisborne last saw major tsunami action in 1947 when Tatapouri was hit by a 10 metre wave which washed out houses and the front of the local pub, but fortunately didn’t kill anyone. This has been New Zealand’s largest local tsunami in living memory says Dr Alastair Barnett, FIPENZ.

Tsunami – coming to Northland says experts
Wednesday 27 July 2005
In 1960 there was a wave of about three metres at Tutukaka Harbour now a popular Northland marina, and in the 15th century at Henderson Bay in the Far North there is evidence that a tsunami ran up at least 32 metres above sea level, although the wave may have only been seven metres high. Tsunamis have come in the past and they will come again to the region in the future says Tsunami expert Dr James Goff.

Tsunami action in Auckland - its happened before
Tuesday, 2 August 2005
Orewa, Great Barrier Island and the Hauraki Gulf all show evidence of tsunami action dating back to the 1800s and earlier, and as Tsunami expert Dr James Goff says; “Tsunamis have come in the past and they will come again to the Auckland region in the future.”

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Blast off as hundreds of school children descend on Christchurch’s Town Hall
Tuesday, 2 August 2005
NASA engineer Dr Jack Bacon has been working the night shifts at mission control as a member of the NASA technical management team that oversees the construction and operation of the International Space Station.

Christchurch students get rare insight into NASA space station
Monday, 25 July 2005
A solid education is more important to an individual today than it has been at any time in human history says NASA engineer Dr Jack Bacon who will be in Christchurch in two weeks to give a series of free school and university lectures organised by the Canterbury Branch of the Institution of Professional Engineers (IPENZ).

Tsunami expert says Wellington waterfront developers must heed warnings
Tuesday, 19 July 2005
The proposed Wellington waterfront developments offer a great opportunity to minimize the considerable tsunami hazard facing the city, but on the other hand uncontrolled development could aggravate the risks says Tsunami expert Dr Alastair Barnett, a Fellow of IPENZ.

Tsunami in the West Coast a Possibility
Tuesday, 19 July 2005
Most people who live on the West Coast don’t believe they will ever face a Tsunami in their region – but think again says Tsunami expert Dr James Goff. He has been invited to speak by the West Coast Branch of IPENZ next week: Friday, 29 July 2005 at 3.00pm at the West Coast Regional Council, 388 Main South Road, Greymouth.

Nelson needs to pay attention to Tsunami risk says expert
Monday, 18 July 2005
Abel Tasman National Park last saw BIG Tsunami action about 500 and 700 years ago, with several smaller ones since then says Tsunami expert Dr James Goff. Dr Goff has been invited to speak by the Nelson/Marlborough branch of IPENZ next week: Thursday, 28 July 2005 at 7.00pm at the Suter Theatre, 208 Bridge St Nelson.

Engineering Canterbury’s Economic Boom
Thursday, 7 July 2005
The Canterbury economy can be far more successful says Steve Abley, Chairman of the Canterbury Branch of the Institution of Professional Engineers (IPENZ). “Why doesn’t NZ produce enough technologists when we have a world class research and engineering school right here in Christchurch?”

Welsh engineer beats local competition
Thursday, 7 July 2005
Philip Hamblin, aged 31, is just the sort of skilled engineer moving to Nelson from overseas that the politicians talk about. He came to Nelson looking for a change of pace and lifestyle and no sooner did he move here he won the local Institution of Professional Engineers New Zealand, (IPENZ) Nelson/Marlborough Young Engineers Presentations Competition.

Engineers must support young talent
Wednesday, 6 July 2005
Where would New Zealand industry and infrastructure be without our engineering expertise? And how will our businesses succeed in the future if we can’t attract talented young people into the engineering profession.

Charles Willmot IPENZ Director - Engineering
Monday, 27June 2005
Charles Willmot has been appointed the new Director-Engineering for the Institution of the Professional Engineers (IPENZ).

Engineering Excellence Supported by Profession
Thursday, 16 June 2005
The engineering profession is looking for the 2005 New Zealand Engineer of the year for the inaugural New Zealand Engineering Excellence Awards (NZEEA). A call for entries close Friday, 1 July 2005.

See Student Engineers Get Down and Dirty in Wellington
Photo opportunity this weekend 8 – 11 July 2005
Undergraduate engineers from engineering schools across New Zealand, plus two representatives from the Canada Federation of Engineering Students, will descend on Wellington this weekend to compete in the second annual Student Engineers National Symposium (SENS’05).

Engineer wins prestigious award to study earthquakes overseas
Tuesday, 28 June 2005
Earthquakes and shaky homes is a reality for kiwis, but for Merrick Taylor, an Institution of Professional Engineers (IPENZ) Graduate Member, winning the 2005 Hume Fellowship worth $30,000 means he can study the subject overseas in-depth, and bring home much needed specialist knowledge.

The IPENZ Foundation Award for Excellence in
Engineering Journalism
Monday, 13 June 2005
Journalists who have written articles improving the publics understanding of the role of engineering in society could win a cash prize of $5,000.

Queen's Birthday Honours
Monday, 13 June 2005
Three highly respected Members of IPENZ were recognized in the 2005 Queen’s Birthday Honours list announced recently

Student Engineers Meet Real World Challenges at National Symposium congestion
Thursday, 12 May 2005
This years Student Engineers National Symposium (SENS’05) is off to a brilliant start by launching a new website to encourage more students to take part in this year’s event.

Look overseas to solve NZ transport congestion problems says engineer
Monday, 11 April 2005
A proposal to travel for over two months to study nine cities’ transportation solutions, and bring home suggestions for New Zealand’s increasing congestion and transportation problems has won Institution of Professional Engineers (IPENZ) member Steve Abley the 2005 Hume Fellowship worth $25,000 - one of the premier awards available to the engineering profession in New Zealand.

Engineering Grads Key to NZ’s Future success
says incoming IPENZ president
Monday, 11 April 2005
Across the country there are increasing calls for more power, roads, and improved buildings, but without more engineering graduates coming up through the ranks, New Zealand’s existing infrastructure will continue to suffer, says incoming Institution of Professional engineers (IPENZ) president, Roly Frost.

Peter Jackson, Pro-Vice-Chancellor University of Canterbury, elected IPENZ Deputy President
Monday, 11 April 2005
Peter Jackson has been elected the Deputy President of the Institution of Professional Engineers (IPENZ) Board. He brings to IPENZ his considerable knowledge of educating young engineers.

Peter is currently the Pro-Vice-Chancellor for the College of Engineering at the University of Canterbury, and was formally a professor in Mechanical Engineering at the University of Auckland.

Environment Bay of Plenty CEO elected IPENZ
Vice President
Monday, 11 April 2005
Environment Bay of Plenty Chief Executive, Jeff Jones has been elected the Vice President of the Institution of Professional Engineers (IPENZ) Board. He brings to IPENZ his business acumen with local government, and his professional engineering expertise in resource management and climate change issues for local communities.

2005 IPENZ Awards - March 2005

2005 IPENZ Fellows
Thirty seven new Fellows were elected by IPENZ for their contributions to the engineering profession.

2005 Distinguished Fellows
Four Fellows were promoted to the class of Distinguished Fellow of IPENZ for their eminent contribution to the profession of engineering.

Waikato Engineering Students win 2005 IPENZ Award
Engineering students from Waikato University are this years winners of IPENZ 2005 Student Design Awards.

IPENZ Opus Supreme Technical Awards for Engineering Achievers
The 2005 IPENZ Supreme Technical Awards for Engineering Achievers sponsored by Opus International Consultants.

Associate Professor Roger Dunn - Professional Commitment Award
Associate Professor Roger Dunn, University of Auckland - awarded the 2005 Professional Commitment Award.

Barry Brown - MacLean Citation Award
Barry Brown has been awarded the IPENZ MacLean Citation 2005.

IPENZ Competence Assessment Board 2002-2004 - President’s Award
The IPENZ Competency Assessment Board 2002-2004 were awarded this year’s IPENZ President’s Award.

Peter Maire President of Navman NZ becomes an Honorary Fellow of IPENZ
Peter Maire, Founder and President of Navman NZ Ltd, has been invited to become an Honorary Fellow of IPENZ.

Sweet ideas from Tararua College wins IPENZ Neighbourhood Engineers Award
Tuesday, 1 March 2005
It was thumbs up for the Year 11 students at Tararua College, who won the IPENZ Neighbourhood Engineers Award for their chocolate treats which they designed, made and packaged on behalf of their school’s Board of Trustees.

Mayor says Engineers Need to Take Up the Challenge of Leadership
Thursday, 17 March 2005
His Worship the Mayor of Auckland City, Dick Hubbard, gave the opening address at the 2005 IPENZ Convention. He said he endorsed the goal of engineers as leaders and believed the profession was pivotal for infrastructure-planning, delivery and design of cities now and in the future.

Emerging Technologies highlighted at IPENZ Convention
Tuesday, 1 March 2005
The Emerging Technologies technical sessions at the Institution of Professional Engineers Convention to be held next month in Auckland, covers robotic devices to manipulate long bone fractures, nanotechnology, Smart Optical Materials to assist with the spectacles of the future, and new technologies which help babies with breathing difficulties.

Sweet ideas from Tararua College wins IPENZ Neighbourhood Engineers Award
Tuesday, 1 March 2005
It was thumbs up for the Year 11 students at Tararua College, who won the IPENZ Neighbourhood Engineers Award for their chocolate treats which they designed, made and packaged on behalf of their school’s Board of Trustees.

Pilot projects for growth and innovation announced
Friday, 22 February 2005
Education Minister Trevor Mallard announced the ICT Professionals for the future programme run by IPENZ, MasseyUniversity and related industry groups.

Keeping ahead of the changing building industry
Wednesday, 16 February 2005
The design and construction of New Zealand’s buildings is increasing in complexity which is impacting directly on professional engineering practices, says one of New Zealand’s leading design engineers.

DaleTurkington, Executive Director at Beca Infrastructure Ltd, says that over the years rules and regulations have become more onerous, and the new Building Act will only introduce further changes.

Engineers’ voice missing from political landscape
Monday, 14 February 2005
Douglas Armstrong, Auckland City Councillor and past president of the Institution of Professional Engineers (IPENZ), says the quality of national debate over the direction and infrastructure of New Zealand would vastly improve if engineers were more involved in the decision-making process at a political level where the major decisions are made.

Wellington Councils need to do something about tsunamis says prominent engineer
Tuesday, 8 February 2005
Dr Alastair Barnett, a Fellow of the Institution of Professional Engineers (IPENZ), believes the Greater Wellington Regional Council and Wellington City Council need to give tsunamis the same attention given to comparable hazards such as floods and earthquakes.

“Engineers as Leaders” - Convention 2005
The “Engineers as Leaders” theme will reign supreme over the IPENZ Convention 2005, and aims to encourage engineers to take more of a leadership role developing New Zealand’s economy and national wealth.Back to News and Views
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