Resource Management Certificate

Update on NZARM Resource Management Certification

This is an update for members of NZARM regarding the position of the current Practising Certificate, and the proposed introduction of a new Resource Management Certificate to replace the current system.

Over the past few years, NZARM has operated under an Australian based certification system known as CPRM (Certified Practising Resource Manager). This was set up in conjunction with the New Zealand Institute of Agricultural and Horticultural Science, and has worked reasonably well until about 4 years ago, when we appeared to receive little or no feedback from the Australian administrators. The situation over the last two years is that the Australian based CPRM appears to be dysfunctional. Alan Campbell looked closely at the CPRM system and recommended that it no longer be used by NZARM.

The Executive Committee has considered the matter and noted that there is an existing Resource Management Certification provision in Clause 10 of the NZARM Constitution. The Constitution requires that NZARM has in place its own Certification process, and this is currently being worked on.

The Executive has set up a sub-committee of Simon Stokes, Norm Ngapo and John Whale to look closely at recommending a policy for the re-introduction of a Resource Management Certificate for professional certification of NZARM members.

The proposed policy is currently being finalised, but the key elements include the following:

Key elements:

• The new Certificate will comprise two categories;
• The first category will be a general certificate and will recognise general competence in resource management;
• The second category will be a professional certificate, and will recognise professional and technical expertise in resource management;
• Holders of both Certificates must be members of NZARM;
• Existing CPRM holders will be automatically grandparented to the second category of professional certificate;
• All new applicants must progress through the first certificate in general competence to the second professional certificate;
• Awarding of the certificates will be handled through a Resource Management Certification Board as set out in Section 10 of the NZARM Constitution.

NZARM members will be kept informed of the developments through Broadsheet and the NZARM website http://www.nzarm.org.nz/.  It is proposed that the new system will be formally presented to the membership at the 2010 AGM at Christchurch in September.

Norm Ngapo

Member Exec Committee 13 April 2010