Code of Minimum Standards of Ethical Conduct for Registered Architects

The Code reproduced below is taken from the Registered Architects Rules 2006 part 3.

Standards related to the public
 
46. Not misrepresent himself or herself
A registered architect must not represent or promote himself or herself, his or her business, or his or her professional services in a false, fraudulent, misleading, or deceptive manner.
 
47. Uphold the law
A registered architect must abide by the professional codes of ethics and conduct and laws in force in the countries or jurisdictions in which he or she provides professional services.
 
Standards related to the client
 
48. Exercise unprejudiced and unbiased judgement
A registered architect must exercise unprejudiced and unbiased judgement.
 
49. Care and diligence
A registered architect must perform his or her professional work with due care and diligence.
 
50. Terms of appointment
A registered architect must not undertake professional work unless the registered architect and the client have agreed the terms of the appointment, which may include but need not be limited to:
(a) scope of work
(b) allocation of responsibilities
(c) any limitation of responsibilities
(d) fee, or method of calculating it, and terms of trade
(e) any provision for termination
(f) provision for professional indemnity insurance.
 
51. Remuneration and inducements
A registered architect must:
(a) be remunerated solely by the fees and benefits specified in the appointment or employment agreement; and
(b) not offer any inducements to procure an appointment.
 
52. Confidentiality of client's affairs
(1) A registered architect must observe the confidentiality of the client's affairs and must not disclose confidential information without the prior consent of the client.
(2) Subclause (1) does not apply if the registered architect is required by law to disclose that information.
 
53. Conflict of interest
A registered architect must disclose to clients, owners, or contractors significant circumstances known to the registered architect that could be construed as creating a conflict of interest. The registered architect must ensure that the conflict does not interfere with the registered architect's duty to render unprejudiced and unbiased judgement.
 
Standards related to profession
 
54. Act with honesty and fairness
A registered architect must pursue his or her professional activities with honesty and fairness.
 
Standards related to other registered architects
 
55. Acknowledge colleagues' contributions
A registered architect must:
(a) build his or her professional reputation on the merits of his or her own performance; and
(b) not claim as his or her own intellectual property and ideas of other registered architects.
 
56. Not maliciously or unfairly criticise
A registered architect must not maliciously or unfairly criticise or attempt to discredit another registered architect's work.

57. Conflicts of professional appointment
A registered architect must, on being approached to undertake professional work for which he or she knows, or by reasonable inquiry ascertains, that another registered architect has a current appointment with the same client, notify the other registered architect.

58. Giving an opinion on the work of another registered architect
A registered architect must, when appointed to give an opinion on the work of another registered architect, notify the other registered architect unless the appointed registered architect is aware of any current or pending litigation concerning the work that is the subject of the opinion.
New Zealand Registered Architects Board
Postal Address: PO Box 11106, Manners Street, Wellington
Level 5, Tourism & Travel House, 79 Boulcott St, Wellington 6011
Phone +64 4 471 1336      Phone +64 4 472 5352      Email info@nzrab.org.nz      Phone mobile site