Explanatory note

This note is not part of the rules, but is intended to indicate their general effect.

These rules, which come into force on the day after the date of their notification in the Gazette, amend the Registered Architects Rules 2006.

Rules 4 to 6 make changes relating to the evaluation of continued registration of architects. The main change is that the New Zealand Registered Architects’ Board will no longer use the procedure for assessment for continued registration without an evaluation panel.

Rule 7 provides for transitional and savings provisions. They provide that the new substantive changes to charges for certificates of registration apply only for the registration year beginning 1 July 2013 and subsequent years.

Rule 8 replaces the schedule of charges for services provided by the New Zealand Registered Architects’ Board. A summary of the main changes is as follows:

• the charge for initial registration is reduced from $2,081.50 to $1200.60 for a first attempt:

• the charge for initial registration is reduced from $2,081.50 to $600.30 for each subsequent attempt:

• the $1,725 charge for an interactive equivalency assessment for initial registration is abolished:

• the $115 charge for a competence review desk-top assessment is abolished:

• the charge for a competence review interactive assessment is increased from $517.50 to $632.50:

• the charge for an annual certificate of registration is increased from $563.50 to $644.00 and the charge for a 6-month January to June certificate of registration from $281.75 to $322.00.

The following charges are not substantively changed:

• application for initial registration, if the applicant was previously registered as a registered architect or as an architect under the Registered Architects Act 2005 or the Architects Act 1963:

• application for initial registration, if there is no interactive assessment:

• review of registration assessment procedures.

The charge for an equivalency assessment, if there is no interactive assessment, is not substantively changed, but the name of this charge is changed to equivalency assessment.

These charges are just updated to reflect the increase in goods and services tax from 12.5% to 15% that took effect from 1 October 2010. Section 78(3) of the Goods and Services Tax Act 1985 has the effect of automatically applying tax increases to fees, charges, or other amounts prescribed by the principal rules. These rules update the amounts to ensure that the charges can be read and applied without recourse to section 78(3) of the Goods and Services Tax Act 1985.