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.

The signing was hosted by New Zealand’s minister for building and housing Dr Nick Smith and came 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.

As a result of the MRA, an APEC architect in Australia or New Zealand is entitled to registration in Canada as of right, apart from being assessed about any aspects of the architectural process in Canada that is specific to Canada.

The same applies for a Canadian APEC architect applying for registration in Australia or New Zealand. Thus Canada is obliged under the MRA to accept Australia or New Zealand’s assurance that the Australian or New Zealand APEC architect making the application is competent and safe to practise in terms of the generic skills, knowledge and attitudes required of an architect. The same also applies the other way when a Canadian APEC Architect applies for registration in Australia or New Zealand.

“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,” NZRAB chairperson Warwick Bell says.

New Zealand architects are already entitled to registration in Australia as of right, and vice versa, under the Government to Government Trans-Tasman Mutual Recognition Arrangement.