CPEC is a statutory body established under the Act, which came into force on 1 July 2002.
In undertaking its statutory duties CPEC:
- Reviews and Approves the Registration Authority's rules containing standards that cover minimum standards of initial AND ongoing competence plus ethical conduct
- Hears Appeals from decisions of the Registration Authority on disciplinary matters and also decisions not to register or renew the registration of a chartered professional engineer
- Reviews and Reports to the Minister on the performance of the Registration Authority and CPEC in exercising their respective functions and powers under the Act
Kahui Kaiwetepanga Ngaio Whaimana is the Te Reo Māori name for CPEC.
The Māori Language Commission advised the delegates attending the 2004 IPENZ Convention that the best term for Chartered Professional Engineer was Kaiwetepanga (engineers), Ngaio (a generic adjective for professional), and Whaimana (chartered). These Māori words were derived as outlined below.
- Kāhui means group or collective (the Council)
- Kaiwetepanga was suggested to capture the essence of engineering. It is made up from the following Maori words:
- 'wete' (to solve)
- 'panga' (problem)
- 'kai' (the person who does)
Drawing from these words the word, 'kaiwetepanga', meaning 'engineer' was born.
- Ngaio means professional
- Whaimana means authorised or having authority (or Chartered)
Since March 2004, Kāhui Kaiwetepanga Ngaio Whaimana has been included on the logo of CPEC.
What is the Chartered Professional Engineers Act?
- This Act replaced the 1924 Engineers Registration Act and its purpose is to create a quality-mark, (CPEng), for competent professional engineers and place their names on a public register.
- The CPEng Act seeks to inform the recipient of engineering services as to whom the profession sees as competent practitioners by allowing them use of the title Chartered Professional Engineer (CPEng).