UNITED KINGDOM Association NEWSLETTER

At the AGM a number of graduates expressed the wish for an evening devoted to discussion and instruction of the requirements necessary for the Professional Review, particularly with regard to monitored training, "mentoring" and continuity whilst working in the UK.

You are all invited to join us at the Southern Cross pub, 65 New Kings Rd, SW6 for a presentation by Brian Anderson on, "The Route to Membership", and informal discussion of individual needs, 7.30p.m., 21st October. Nearest tube Fulham Broadway, or no 22 bus.

The Hon. Secretary is frequently asked questions about the Professional Review process and the qualifications needed. Unfortunately her experience is limited and she can only talk from the viewpoint of a civil engineer. However, within our membership there is a wealth of experience and knowledge. Many of our long term members have conducted interviews themselves and know what standards the examiners are seeking.

IPENZ (UK) Association is therefore conducting an open evening for Graduate Engineers to assist them in achieving full Corporate membership. It will be a chance for graduates to meet corporate members with a view to discussing their training requirements and the standards expected for Professional Review. It will also be a chance for them to continue the Mentoring system recently started in New Zealand.

Mentoring

For those of you unfamiliar with the concept of mentoring we have grabbed a few sections from the IPENZ Web page for distribution at the Meeting. Here is their definition of a Mentor:

"With its origins in the concept of apprenticeship, a mentor (meaning "faithful counsellor") is someone who is a mixture of a coach and a friend, someone who can provide motivation, someone that one can talk to without fear of being judged, and someone who has the skills to guide a younger, less experienced peer in their career development and career prospects.

A mentor is someone who has the experience to offer you opinions or advice with the problems you may face in your work and career, and who can discuss with you the decisions you have to make. A mentor takes a personal interest in your professional development and can assist in building your confidence to achieve your goals."

IPENZ conducts Professional Interviews in this country and many successful candidates have been able to apply for Chartered Engineer status under reciprocal agreements with UK Institutions.

Our Graduate Engineers encompass nearly the full range of the profession and hence we would like as many Corporate members as possible to attend, to either provide the benefit of their experience or to learn how to further the Profession.

For the Graduate Evening to be a success we need you all.

If you can assist or are a Graduate seeking further information or advice, please contact the Hon Secretary so that she can match up Graduates and Corporate members for possible informal mentoring. If you live too far away to be able to spend an evening in London please let her know since we may be able to find other engineers in your area that would be willing to have their own local Graduates Evening.

If the evening is a success we may be able to make this an annual event.

Remember that all time spent participating in these types of activities counts towards Continuing Professional Development

Other Future Events

Canning Town Station

Unfortunately Malcolm's unexpected trip to NZ has meant that he has been unable to finalise a date for an IPENZ visit to Canning Town Station on the Jubilee Line Extension. He is still pursuing this but it is now likely to be in the new year.

However, he will be giving a technical presentation on Canning Town Station to the ICE Southern Association in the Anvil, Basingstoke at 1830, 4th November. All IPENZ members would be most welcome.

This promises to be an interesting evening and should be an excellent taste of what he will be showing us in 1998.

Visit by Warwick Bishop

Warwick Bishop, the Chief Executive Officer of IPENZ will be in London for four nights/days in early November. He would like to get together with the UK Branch.

We have arranged to meet him at the Basement bar in the Institution of Civil Engineers' building at One Great George Street on the evening of the 3rd November from 6.30pm onwards. This is your chance to come along and find out how NZ is coping without us and what is new in NZ engineering.

IPENZ Christmas Soiree

Don't forget that this year we play hosts and that we have booked the Penthouse Suite at New Zealand House once again for the Soiree on Thursday, 27th November. For those of you able to attend the AGM you will be impressed with the new refurbishment. Prior to the Soiree we will be holding a Special General Meeting to finalise some details following on from the AGM. More information and voting forms to follow in the next Newsletter.

Recent Events

IPENZ Barbecue

The IPENZ barbecue at Henley on Thames was again brilliantly organised by Graham Withers, Ian Kirker and assistants.

The weather in the morning was sunny and warm. The company of the highest standard and the food and drink plentiful. The only disappointment was that the rain in the afternoon prevented John Webley from challenging all comers to a game of Boules. Fortunately the rain held off until all the food had been cooked and mostly eaten.

Our thanks to all who made it such a great day out.

News in Brief

A HOUSE hit a car on a busy road in Henderson, west Auckland, this week. The impact unbalanced the house, which tipped off the truck carrying it, and blocked the road for about two hours.

WELLINGTON City's sewage sludge could be used to generate electricity. The process, developed by Enviro Energy of Hamilton, is promoted by local Maori, who are appealing to the Environment Court against a plan to turn the sewage into compost. Enviro Energy marketing manager, Ron Stephenson, said burning sludge powder could produce enough energy to run the process and supply power to about 2000 homes.

A FATHER of six, Ross John Rayner, died in Huntly when a 14-tonne weight fell on him. The 43-year-old Hamilton man, a driver for Porter Heavy Haulage, was securing the weight on the back of a truck when the accident happened. He had intended transporting it from DML Resources' storage site in Rotowaro Rd, Huntly, to his company's Hamilton premises.

SKY high rescue: Two men have been rescued from high on the Sky Tower in Auckland, the Southern Hemisphere's tallest building. The men were working 200 metres up on a maintenance unit that washes the tower's windows, when their safety capsule failed, stranding them

AUCKLAND Zoo's multimillion-dollar Pridelands development has taken on the feel of a Thai logging camp since elephants Kashin and Burma joined the construction crew. The elephants are learning the trade as they help to clear foliage from the 6 ha site. Unlike their Asian cousins, however, these two are not hauling logs to earn their keep, but to sharpen their minds. Zoo veterinarian Dr Richard Jakob-Hoff said the work amounted to elephant occupational therapy.

Pension Plan Rejected

Winston Peters received a set back at the weekend when a proposal to introduce a compulsory retirement savings scheme in New Zealand was rejected by 92.4 per cent of voters in a referendum. The postal ballot produced a 74.4 per cent response.

Under the proposal, people would have had contributions deducted from their incomes by the tax department and invested in private pension schemes, although balancing tax cuts were promised. The scheme would eventually have replaced the state pension.

First Private Power Station Opened

The $80M McLachlan Power station near Taupo had been plagued by delays and was supposed to have been officially opened in January until a last minute legal challenge by local Maoris set it back still further.

Alistair McLachlan, once a farmer on geothermal land, is now a joint owner with Mercury Geotherm of a 50 MW power station.

IPENZ Web Pages

If you have any queries regarding IPENZ in New Zealand and you have access to the Internet we strongly recommend that you visit IPENZ's web pages. They are accessible as a link from the UK Association's web page, are fairly comprehensive and well worth a visit. Their address is:

http://www.ipenz.org.nz/

Dates For Your Diary

21st Oct. 1997	Graduates Evening
3rd Nov. 1997	Warwick Bishop Visit
4th Nov. 1997	Talk on Canning Town
27th Nov. 1997	Pre Christmas Soirée with IEAust in New Zealand House Preceded by a Special General Meeting
April 1998	Trip to Big Ben
Spring 1998	Trip to Canning Town

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