Update on Regulation of Subdivision Engineering

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Following the passing of the Cabinet paper submitted by MBIE at the end of March, outlining their proposal for a new occupational regulatory regime for professional engineers (including Land Development & Subdivision Engineering), it is timely to update on our advocacy work with the MBIE Policy Advisory Team.

In June 2021, Jayne Albiston (Professional Development & Advocacy Manager S+SNZ) wrote the submission to MBIE regarding their new proposed Regime for the Occupational Regulation of Engineers. The new Regime proposed to regulate all those professionals practicing engineering of any kind, including Land Development & Subdivision Engineering practised by so many of our Surveyor Members. The S+SNZ Certification Project, which is entering its pilot phase for Certification of Land Development Engineering Competence, is aiming to fulfil the new criteria required under MBIE’S new regime. The ultimate goal is to see Land Development Engineering be a recognised class of licence under the new regime. We are working to this goal and will be aiming to become the 3rd party service provider to MBIE’s Engineering Registration Board to provide assessment of on-going competency for Land Development Engineers. In 3-5 years, it is anticipated that S+SNZ members who practice in this area will be known as Registered and Licenced Land Development Engineers and this will be governed by legislation.

Growing and maintaining open communication and relationship with the Policy Team is helping to inform our Certification work and to guide us so that we are in the best position possible to apply to have our Land Development Engineering recognised as a class of licence under the new regime when it comes in.

Caroline Ryder, the Principal Policy Advisor at MBIE, responsible for developing the new occupational regulatory regime for professional engineers (including Land Development and Subdivision) is going to be presenting a webinar outlining the new regime and the timeline moving forward. Watch out for the announcement of this Webinar as it is of enormous importance for our Land Development Stream and members practising in this area. You can read the Cabinet Papers here: https://www.mbie.govt.nz/have-your-say/proposed-occupational-regulatory-regime-for-engineers/

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