IPENZ Engineers New Zealand

HOME > publications > engineering-NZ > volume53-1998 > 1998-03-mar > editorial

Back to Publications

New Zealand Engineering 1998 March

Editorial - Speaking Up

Internally, 1998 will be a year of consolidation for IPENZ. We have a new brand, a new Chief Executive, Warwick Bishop, and four new managers - including one in our new Northern Region Office in Auckland. We have an excellent but hard-won new database, and new systems are being put in place in the important areas of education and membership. The IPENZ Centre for Sustainable Management has been launched in Auckland and New Zealand Engineering has a new look.

These excellent advances need time to settle. Probably the most important new work for the National Office this year will be developing and enhancing our relationship with IPENZ branches and the technical groups. They are the lifeblood of the Institution and have not received the attention they deserve.

Gretchen Kivell
IPENZ President

It is time to turn the profession's attention outward. As I wrote recently "National and local government reforms have made significant changes to the work and working lives of engineers and our voice has not been sufficiently heard as this has been happening. Developments in health, education, the country's infrastructure, business and industry are all in need of engineering input and creativity. Professional engineers are a valuable resource of our nation. It is time to make our voice heard and our presence valued". There are several important audiences for IPENZ's `voice': national and local government, employers and those who use, or need, the services of engineers, and school pupils, their teachers and parents.

Already three important initiatives are under way for 1998. The first is to identify relevant legislation early and ensure IPENZ makes a considered submission at the select committee stage. The Hon Dr Nick Smith is assisting IPENZ with the identification of the legislation, and we in turn will be looking to technical groups to assist with the development of an appropriate submission.

IPENZ must strike up a rapport with the media, both press and radio, so that we are automatically approached for comment both for disaster events and where a technically-competent response will add to the debate. The Board has developed a plan for developing the media's confidence in IPENZ's willingness to respond quickly, competently, and in a way that is of interest and value to the public. The chief executive will usually be the spokesperson, he will call on technical groups and others as appropriate for a rapid and considered response.

Our schools' liaison activity, Neighbourhood Engineers, is moving to provide a service to schools where it is most needed - to assist in a wide variety of ways with delivery of the new technology curriculum. The personal approach, the individual stories and a genuine enthusiasm for the profession of engineering will go far in providing young people with a vision of a career that might just be for them.

1998 will be a year for internal consolidation and external outreach. We have the support systems in place, now we must make our voice heard.