'These are uncertain & unsettling times'

Tim Melville, Te Kāhui Whaihanga NZIA President, comments on the uncertainty of life and work amid the spread of COVID-19.

I hope you are well and that, whatever your circumstances, you and those close to you are looking after each other and looking out for each other.

Earlier this week, our Chief Executive Teena Hale Pennington outlined the current status of the Institute’s programme of events and activities, and set out the decisions the Institute has made, or will soon have to make, in response to the COVID-19 pandemic and the public health policies and directives that affect all New Zealanders.

Teena also emphasised the determination and preparedness of the Institute office to offer continued support to our members, and I endorse that commitment.

These are uncertain and very unsettling times. The situation is unprecedented and the impact on our profession will be significant. We haven’t been here before; however, many of us have been through other difficult periods, such as the Canterbury earthquakes in 2011 and the Global Financial Crisis a few years before that. And, if you have been in practice as long as I have, you’ll remember the recessions of the early 1990s.

I know this is different – we have both a health emergency and a looming recession. But we do have experience of resilience, and we’ll need to draw on that.

We’ll also have to take care of each other, and of our practices, as much as we can. It is very likely that some staff in member practices will soon be working in isolation, and it’s important that we anticipate both the professional and personal dimensions of remote working. Regular (non-physical) contact with colleagues, and with networks such as practice support groups, is going to be very important. Fortunately, there are many communication tools that allow us to connect with each other.

The Institute office will continue to provide the NZIA community with practice resources, communicate important information and offer ways for members to share their experiences. If you are facing specific challenges, or have particular concerns, please contact the Institute office.

A primary concern is the flow of architectural work. Right now, government, both central and local, is by far the most important client in the economy. The Institute is urging government to maintain its investment in building and infrastructure projects and to commit new funding, which will engage our profession and give much-needed stimulus for the sector.

The response from government clients is encouraging, and in line with the measures announced yesterday by the Minister of Finance. One of those measures is financial support for employers. Information on wage subsidies and leave payments can be found on the Work & Income website.

At a time like this, the collegiality that characterises our profession, and our Institute, is enormously valuable. I’m confident we will continue to do whatever we can to support each other through the months ahead.

Kia kaha, 

Tim Melville, Te Kāhui Whaihanga NZIA President