Graduates Evening
Following on from the last two years successes we are intending to repeat this event with particular emphasis on new members or those considering joining at any level. Application forms will be available at the meeting including all those necessary for Professional Review and Continuing Professional Development.
We have booked the Southern Cross pub, 65 New Kings Rd, SW6 for a presentation continuing the theme of "The Route to Membership," and informal discussion of individual needs. Meet from 6.30 p.m. for 7.00 p.m. on 11 April 2000. Estimated completion at 9.00 p.m. Nearest tube Fulham Broadway or Parsons Green, or no 22 , 28 bus. A BR route is via Wandsworth Town and then no 28 bus.
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. (See later reports in this newsletter.) Many of our long term members have conducted interviews themselves and know what standards the examiners are seeking. All members are encouraged to attend.
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.
If you can assist or are a Graduate seeking further information or advice, please contact the Hon Secretary so that he 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 him know since we may be able to find other engineers in your area that would be willing to have their own local Graduates Evening.
Remember that all time spent participating in these types of activities counts towards Continuing Professional Development.
Professional Reviews
Gordon Weir is our new Professional Review Coordinator, his numbers are:
Ph 020 7804 9661 (work)
Ph 020 8673 1130 (home)
or e-mail gordon.weir@uk.pwcglobal.com
Reciprocal Arrangements
Sir Ron Carter, our President, was in London in November and together with John Gardiner IPENZ General Manager has seen the ICE, IEE, IMechE and IStructE. They are all talking to us about improving the linkages and the benefits for joint membership.
Currently IPENZ has reciprocal agreements in place with most of these Institutions but some offer more benefits to our members than others. IStructE in particular are setting the pace with a 25% discount on subsriptions.
Other UK Association News
Articles for the Newsletter
If you have any news for us, events etc. that you would like us to tell people about in the newsletter please email or fax them to the Hon. Secretary and he will forward them to the Newsletter Editor. Feel free to write about the projects you are working on, any differences in British practice compared with NZ, or how you resolved any difficulties encountered.
News From New Zealand
It's All Over At Eden Park. The Kiwis were hammered by the green and golds The Australian cricketers haqve comprehensively beaten New Zealand at Eden Park. The Kiwis posted a meagre 122 after being bowled out in 30 overs. Despite the early loss of openers Waugh and Gilchrist, Australia went on to reach the target in just 24 overs.
Economic growth and higher employment in central business districts are resulting in a bullish outlook for Auckland's prime office sector. A rocket has already been launched by one of the major players, AMP NZ Office Trust, which announced late last year that it would build a $150 million office tower on the Auckland waterfront. This has set the property sector abuzz and markedly improved the outlook. Industry players are excited about the prospect of the new block, to be called Waterfront Towers, and are pinning their hopes on its coming to fruition. The tower, to be built on Quay St near the Copthorne Harbourcity, will be only the second major office building constructed in Auckland during the past nine years. It follows closely the 40-level Royal SunAlliance Centre, built between Fort and Shortland Sts by Kiwi Development Trust. Major international agency Jones Lang LaSalle notes in a briefing paper the "reasonably favourable" economic outlook. It noted a 40 per cent increase in letting activity in terms of square metres leased in the third quarter of last year.
Sirs and dames may join colonial past
The royal honours titles of "knight" and "dame" look likely to get the chop. But the Prime Minister is more cautious about getting rid of two other British colonial relics - the Union Jack on the flag and appeals to the Privy Council. Helen Clark say she has been mulling over the abolition of the titles "sir" and "dame" in honours lists for some weeks. The Speaker of Parliament, Jonathan Hunt, recently wrote to her as deputy chairman of the 1995 honours review asking her to consider implementing the one recommendation that the last Government had not adopted. The titles were retained in 1996 after National MPs staged a revolt against the republican tendencies of the Prime Minister at the time, Jim Bolger, and stopped the titles being scrapped - a move the review recommended. The review, suggested ditching British-based imperial orders such as the Most Excellent Order of the British Empire and the Order of St Michael and St George. They were replaced by the New Zealand Order of Merit, the top rankings of which are accorded titles. The Order of New Zealand - established in the 1980s and limited to 20 living people at any one time - is New Zealand's is New Zealand's highest honour, but it carries no title. Helen Clark said that was an anomaly because the perception was that knights and dames outranked membership of that order. It was "somewhat absurd" that the final court of appeal was in Britain, but removing those appeal rights was complicated by relations between the Crown and Maori settlement claimants. It was not an item on Labour's agenda for its first term in Government.
The first race in an historic America's Cup match between holders Team New Zealand and Italy's Prada Challenge was cancelled on Saturday because there was not enough wind, regatta officials said. The cancellation came as an anti-climax after an intense build-up to the Cup, which is being contested without an American boat for the first time in the event's 149-year history.
Regatta officials said more bad news might be in store on Sunday, with light conditions forecast again for the second scheduled race day in the first-to-five series.
"Tomorrow is forecast for light winds again from the east ... it's not looking that flash," race director Harold Bennett told reporters. Nine race days are scheduled up to March 4, with three reserve days set aside after that in case of cancellations. The wind in the Hauraki Gulf wafted between four and five knots, far too light to complete the 18.5 nautical mile race within specified time limits. New Zealand are attempting to become the first non-American boat to successfully defend the America's Cup.
The New Zealanders won the Cup off San Diego in 1995 to become only the second non-American boat after Australia II in 1983 to win one of the oldest trophies in international sport. Hundreds of New Zealanders lined the Auckland foreshore to wish their black-hulled boat well earlier on Saturday. Police said about 2,000 spectator boats lined the course.
"It is very frustrating but we have waited this long, one more day doesn't make any difference," Team New Zealand tactician Brad Butterworth said in a statement.
Prada won the Louis Vuitton Cup challenger eliminations two weeks ago, beating Paul Cayard's AmericaOne 5-4 in an exciting finals series. No European boat has ever won the America's Cup.
Dates for Your Diary
