“We are working collaboratively across the sector to support highly skilled building professionals operating within a future-focused industry,” says Judith Taylor, Acting Chief Executive of the New Zealand Registered Architects Board (NZRAB).
With more than three decades of industry experience to draw from, Judith is bringing a wealth of knowledge to her new role. “I’ve been a registered architect for 38 years and have practised in Wellington, London and Auckland,” she says. “Until recently, I was the president of the Te Kāhui Whaihanga New Zealand Institute of Architects (NZIA); I started as Acting CE at NZRAB in July of 2024. When I saw this opportunity come up, it felt like an invitation to return to Wellington and my tribe.”
Judith’s first few months in the role have been very busy, with a number of foundational changes on the horizon for NZRAB. “The Registered Architects Act [under which NZRAB was established] is currently under review. We’re assessing the competencies used to review the initial and ongoing registration of architects and looking at a digital transformation to offer better services to all of our stakeholders.” The goal is to push the industry forward with competencies and tools that accurately reflect the changing needs of Aotearoa, she says. “We are working with partners to demonstrate more widely the different pathways into architecture and to improve our communications with industry professionals.”
“We regard Teulo as a key partner,” Judith says. “They offer a magnificent variety of accredited CPD events and are helping to ensure that those in the profession maintain lifelong learning. By working alongside them, we can eliminate the need for time-consuming manual inputting of CPD credits and make the CRCR process more efficient for both architects and reviewers.”
These partnerships include a new and exciting collaboration with Teulo that will streamline the five-yearly Continuing Registration Competence Review (CRCR) process for New Zealand architects by using an API (Application Programming Interface) to directly pull details about CPD-accredited activities from Teulo’s learning platform into NZRAB’s reporting portal. “We regard Teulo as a key partner,” Judith says. “They offer a magnificent variety of accredited CPD events and are helping to ensure that those in the profession maintain lifelong learning. By working alongside them, we can eliminate the need for time-consuming manual inputting of CPD credits and make the CRCR process more efficient for both architects and reviewers.”
With the next CRCR period approaching in early 2025, Teulo and NZRAB are excited to offer a much easier and more straightforward renewal option for industry professionals. “Continuing Registration Competency Reviews can make architects nervous,” Judith says. “This new API should take a lot of stress out of the process. Architects will now be able to see, at a glance, whether they’re meeting the requirements of ongoing registration and confirm any learning credits they need to add to their CPD record.
“Our approach to CPD is one with a high degree of flexibility, enabling professionals to shape their own tailored learning experience with activities that will best inform their ongoing practice,” Judith says, “We also work closely with professionals who maybe haven’t kept their CPD reporting up to date to ensure that they are getting the support they need to successfully renew their registration. This API is another step on that journey for us.”
The partnership between Teulo and NZRAB marks a new phase of unity in the industry and a meaningful opportunity to improve New Zealand’s built environment by enabling architecture and design professionals to access quality learning materials and meet ongoing registration requirements more efficiently. The new API is expected to have industry-wide benefits for membership organisations and industry bodies, including the Te Kāhui Whaihanga New Zealand Institute of Architects (NZIA) and Architectural Designers New Zealand (ADNZ), as the whole sector works towards a more collaborative and joined-up approach. “These organisations are key stakeholders for NZRAB,” Judith says. “By working together, we can best serve the public and forge viable career pathways into architecture.”
As she looks to NZRAB’s future, Judith is excited to press ahead with new competencies and updated tools to support the New Zealand industry. “We will be refreshing our strategic plan in early 2025, developing career pathways, and investing in new technology to provide improved services to the profession. In doing so, we will be better equipped to support the public with built spaces that meet their needs.
“We’re currently reviewing both the initial registration and the continuing registration processes and adding specific requirements related to sustainability and cultural
competency under Te Tiriti, both of which we view as critical knowledge for architects practising in Aotearoa New Zealand. Many already have advanced competency in these areas, but it’s an exciting shift to see them now embedded into our requirements. The industry is rapidly changing, with graduates coming into the profession with a much wider set of skills. It’s a very rich and rewarding career with so many pathways and specialties to consider.”
To learn more and connect with Judith, visit https://www.nzrab.nz/ and learn about the new API here.
