Australia, Canada and New Zealand signed a mutual recognition arrangement (MRA) that allows for fast-track cross-border registrations of senior architects between the three economies at the New Zealand Parliament on 18 February 2015.
The signing of the agreement, hosted by New Zealand’s minister for building and housing Dr Nick Smith, has come about as a result of Australia’s, Canada’s and New Zealand’s participation in the APEC Architect Project.
All three economies maintain an APEC Architect Register of senior architects who have met a number of criteria including having at least seven years’ senior experience.
Australian and New Zealand architects are already entitled to registration in across the two countries under the Government to Government Trans-Tasman Mutual Recognition Arrangement. As a result of the new MRA, an APEC architect in Australia or New Zealand is entitled to registration in Canada as of right, apart from being assessed on aspects of the architectural process that is specific to Canada.
The same applies for a Canadian APEC architect applying for registration in Australia or New Zealand. Thus each country is obliged under the MRA to accept the other countries’ assurances that an architect making an application is competent and safe to practise in terms of the generic skills, knowledge and attitudes required of an architect.
“The principal beneficiary of these APEC Architect MRAs is the host economy, rather than the home economy. If a Canadian APEC Architect becomes registered in New Zealand and practises here, the benefit to New Zealand in new ideas and new thinking is far greater than any earnings that the architect may repatriate to Canada. Likewise, the benefit is Canada’s if an Australian or New Zealand APEC Architect is registered and works there,” said Warwick Bell, chairperson of New Zealand Registered Architects Board.
