Members of NZPI make a commitment through the Code of Ethics to maintain and develop their expertise through ongoing CPD.

NZPI has a Continuing Professional Development (CPD) programme that is compulsory for all Full, Intermediate and Graduate members.

CPD is an ongoing requirement for members to undertake education, maintain a current knowledge base and to improve professional competence. It covers educational activities, both formal and informal, which aim to broaden, deepen and update a members’ knowledge and skills.

Requirements at a Glance

There are no annual auditable CPD requirements for Student members and Associate status.

For further information on the changes due or if you are unsure of the level of experience relevant to your situation please contact the NZPI Membership team

The Annual CPD Requirements for Graduate members is 15 point. There are specific category requirements as shown below.

All Graduate members are required to undertake Continuing Professional Development in order to maintain their membership status. Graduate members will be asked to complete 15 hours of CPD per annum. All Graduate members are encouraged to also undertake a number of CPD courses within the two years that this membership status is held and prior to transitioning to Intermediate membership.

Category Requirements
Category One (Minimum)

8
Category Two (No minimum or maximum)

-
Category Three (Maximum)

6



The below document outlines how Graduate Members can meet their responsibilities to fulfill their CPD requirements:

CPD GUIDELINES FOR GRADUATE MEMBERS

The Annual CPD Requirements for Intermediate members is 20 points. There are specific category requirements as shown below.

All Intermediate members are required to undertake Continuing Professional Development in order to maintain their membership status. Intermediate members will be asked to complete 20 hours of CPD per annum. All Intermediate members are required to also undertake a number of core CPD courses within the four years that this membership status is held and prior to transitioning to Full Membership

Category Requirements
Category One (Minimum)

11
Category Two (No minimum or maximum)

-
Category Three (Maximum)

8



The below document outlines how Intermediate Members can meet their responsibilities to fulfill their CPD requirements

CPD GUIDELINES FOR INTERMEDIATE MEMBERS


The Annual CPD Requirements for Full members is 25 points. There are specific category requirements as shown below.

All Full members are required to undertake Continuing Professional Development in order to maintain their membership status. Full members will be asked to complete 25 hours of CPD per annum. In addition, Full members are requested, over a rolling three-year period, to refresh their understanding of ethics specific to planners as well as planning from a Maori perspective by securing no less than 1 CPD point per topic over this period of time.

NOTE: The annual points required must include a minimum of 13 points from category one and two combined. The minimum category one requirement for each level of experience is noted below:

Number of years being a Full member
0-5 years

6-10 years

11+ years

Category Requirements
Category One (Minimum)
13

6

3
Category Two

No minimum or maximum

As noted above

As noted above
Category Three (Maximum)
12
12
12



The below document outlines how Full Members can meet their responsibilities to fulfill their CPD requirements:

DOWNLOAD CPD GUIDELINES FOR FULL MEMBERS


Partially-active membership is defined as any member who works 25 hours or less per week over a sustained period.

Whilst CPD is still compulsory for partially-active members, the number of points required each year is reduced and is based on your original membership category.

Graduate and Intermediate Members who are Partially-Active must:

  • for any year meet a minimum 0.6 of the CPD requirements for their category – this equates to a minimum of 9 points for Graduate members and a minimum of 12 points for Intermediate members;
  • for any year generate at least half of their annual CPD points from Category 1; and
  • still complete the compulsory CPD courses over their time as a member of that category.

Full members who are Partially-active must

  • for any year generate a minimum 0.6 of the CPD requirements - this equates to a minimum of 15 points per year;
  • for any year generate at least half of their annual CPD points from Category 1; and
  • still meet the requirements for Ethics and Maori Values required of Full members.

    Non-active membership is intended to cater for members who are not able to fulfil the requirements of full-time membership due to personal circumstances such as illness, unemployment, maternity leave or personal difficulties. Non active membership status is determined on a case by case basis in response to an application. Non-active members are not required to undertake CPD.

    All overseas Full, Intermediate and Graduate members are required to meet their CPD requirements unless they apply to suspend their membership. CPD activities in their host countries are eligible to meet CPD criteria and members are encouraged to take advantage of the various online options available through the Planning on Demand section.

    The accumulation of CPD points will begin from the 1 January each year if you are an existing member (or if your membership was activated prior to the 1 April in the current calendar year).

    If you have recently upgraded your membership (after the 1 April in the current calendar year) or you are a new member, your annual CPD requirements as noted in the above table may differ for the current calendar year. Please contact the membership team at NZPI to discuss this further.

    Categories at a Glance

    The following categories are deliberately general. It is largely up to the member, as a professional planner, to allocate what they consider to be appropriate CPD on their NZPI record. The emphasis should be placed on time spent that enhances one's professional knowledge - ie. things that one has learnt that improves ability and conduct as a planner.

    Please note that where the CPD is considered an integral part of one's work, the activity cannot be counted as CPD.

    Courses Education and Training to Develop Knowledge, Skills and Values.

    Activities may include:

    • Planning-related education and training - formal short courses, part-time courses, external or in-house courses or conference programmes that consolidate or enhance planning knowledge, skills and values;
    • Attendance at planning-related conferences (maximum of 7 points per full day or attendance), relevant seminars, hui or workshops;
    • Attendance as an observer at significant Environment Court hearings;
    • Participation in a planning-related study tour;
    • Development of planning-related knowledge, skills and values that demonstrates the growth (to the Member) of new approaches, applications, values or techniques with a direct application to planning;
    • Participation as a Mentee in a Mentor/Mentee relationship.

    Contribution to the Profession.

    Activities may include:

    • Research and analysis to investigate new areas of professional interest or planning concern requiring the preparation of a paper or report;
    • Preparation of submissions on legislation etc, where this is not an integral part of the Members work;
    • Participation as a Mentor in a Mentor/Mentee relationship;
    • Publishing articles and papers;
    • Presenting lectures and papers, CPD workshops, conference presentations, where this is not an integral part of the Members work;
    • Involvement in planning-related professional committees for the planning profession, similar professions, academic institutions or community groups or being an NZPI Branch Office holder.

    Self-directed Learning or Non-Planning related courses to develop knowledge, skills and values.

    The development of knowledge, skills and values, be it general or planning-related, which come about through activities that contribute towards personal and professional development.

    Activities may include:

    • Reading professional publications and court decisions
    • Self-guided research via relevant websites eg QP, Planetizen, MOOCs or other media

    Non-planning related areas may include:

    • Human relations
    • Time management
    • Stress management
    • Communication skills
    • Conflict resolution
    • Management skills
    • Financial management
    • Legal knowledge

    Tracking your CPD

    As part of your CPD requirement, it's important that all CPD records are entered in by the end of the membership year (31st of December). This gives NZPI enough time to prepare for the audit that will start in the new year. If you're running late, don't worry, you can still submit your records until January 31st. However, it's essential to ensure that the actual date of the activity is recorded, not the date of entry, to avoid any discrepancies in your CPD record and the audit process.

    It's advisable to keep track of your CPD activities and submit your records on time to maintain your membership status.

    Click here for information on how to track your CPD

    NZPI Events & CPD Calendar

    The CPD programme has been designed to deliver maximum choice whilst supporting you in your learning and career aspirations. Register for a workshop here

    It is important that all members record and track their annual CPD points. This will ensure that when the annual CPD audit is carried out the correct number of hours that you have participated in throughout the year are registered.

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