In an official notice from President Judith Taylor the NZIA Board advised that Chief Executive Officer for the last 11 years, Teena Hale Pennington, is leaving Te Kāhui Whaihanga New Zealand Institute of Architects to pursue other opportunities, with her last day of work being, 6 March 2024.

Taylor expressed that “The Board is sorry to see her go after all that she has achieved on behalf of Te Kāhui Whaihanga. This includes the highly successful 2024 in:situ which was enjoyed recently by a record number of members and partners.”

Taylor listed Hale-Pennington’s achievements since joining as CEO on 2 April 2013 including:

• The signing of Te Kawenata o Rata with Ngā Aho, society of Māori design professionals;
• Committed advocacy with Government and high-quality submissions on a range of matters relevant to the profession and the industry (e.g. risk-based consenting; occupational licensing; building consenting reforms; RMA reform; MOU with Ministry of Education and professional services procurement);
• Sustained growth in membership numbers, diversified income sources and a network of industry partners;
• Long-term financial investments to provide resilience in the Institute’s operations;
• Navigating the disruption of COVID on members, Institute activities and National Office ensuring timely and high-quality advice, responses and resources;
• Developing a high-performing National Office team;
• Initiating (with others) the establishment of the Diversity Agenda and Diversity Accord
• Delivery of relevant practice resources (e.g. Practice Notes, FAQs, Contracts, Remuneration Survey, EAP support for small practices and Emerge) and a high-quality CPD programme for members;
• Increased public presence of architects and architecture, through social media, Friends of Architecture, Te Kupenga newsletter; public Gold Medal lectures, Aotearoa Festival of Architecture and architects and architecture in the media.
• Ongoing development and improvement of the awards programme, including, NZ Awards, Gold Medal, Named Awards, John Sutherland Practice Award, Student Design Awards and Distinguished Fellow; and
• F. Gordon Wilson Fellowship and enduring funding.

The notice was closed with words of thanks and goodwill from the Institution’s members: “On behalf of all members, we thank Teena and wish her well for the future.”

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