Chartered Fellowship
For Aotearoa's exceptional HR leaders
Apply to be a Chartered Fellow
Becoming a Chartered Fellow recognises your exceptional contribution to the HR profession, whilst demonstrating sustained leadership, significant professional achievement, and ongoing commitment to advancing HR practice across our community in Aotearoa, New Zealand.
Chartered Fellows are recognised by the post-nominal CFHRNZ.
What is Chartered Fellowship?
Chartered Fellow status is achieved by experienced Chartered Members who demonstrate exceptional contribution to business or research, sustained high achievement in the profession, and significant contribution to HRNZ.
This recognition confirms you operate at an exceptional level of HR practice, demonstrating proven leadership excellence, strategic business impact or research contribution, and sustained commitment to advancing the profession.
Apply now by completing the application form and sending it to [email protected] alongside your CV and supporting evidence.
Who can apply for Chartered Fellowship?
The Chartered Fellowship process is for exceptional HR practitioners and academics who have made significant contributions to the profession. It serves as proof that the member has met the requirements of Chartered Membership and are recognised by their peers as senior HR practitioners/academics who are highly skilled and knowledgeable. To be eligible, you must:
- Be a current financial member of HRNZ
- Have been granted Chartered Membership status (CMHRNZ) and have held this for at least two years
- Demonstrate all core capabilities of The Path HR Capability Framework at the 'Leads' Level minimum
- Have experience and expertise in at least three Domains of HR Knowledge, one of which must be taken from the following:
Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion
Employment Relations
Health, Safety and Wellbeing
Learning and Development
Criteria for Chartered Fellowship
To qualify as a Chartered Fellow, you must demonstrate:
A. Either:
- proven business contribution, or
- proven contribution to research and/or teaching
B. And must also have:
- Record of high achievement / high influence in profession, AND
- Proven contribution to HRNZ / Recognition from HRNZ, AND
- Proven record of relevant ongoing CPD
These criteria are further clarified as follows:
Proven business contribution demonstrates the contribution and difference the applicant has made to business / organisations through their work. Business contribution must be significant (in relation to the size of the organisation), repeated (with multiple examples) and demonstrated through evidence of sustained improvement in business outcomes. This may be evidenced by examples including:
- Recognition by other professional bodies
- Awards for business achievement
- Verified examples of business impact (including financials)
Proven contribution to research is demonstrated by a sustained track record of contribution to the advancement of broad HR thought leadership / advancement of HR practice or the profession through research. The research must be ethical, sanctioned by a recognised tertiary institution and available publicly. Examples include but are not limited to:
- Track record of published articles in reputable journals
- Evidence of PBRF score
- Multiple reputable conference proceedings listing the applicant as a formal presenter in their own right
Proven contribution to teaching is demonstrated by a sustained track record of effective teaching practice. Examples include but are not limited to:
- Innovations in pedagogy
- Curriculum design
- Mentoring and other forms of teaching leadership
Record of high achievement/ high influence in profession is evidenced by significant voluntary contribution / regular participation in a wider professional capacity that shows commitment to the applicants profession (HR and other) over a sustained period of time.
Proven contribution to HRNZ/ Recognition from HRNZ may be evidenced by significant voluntary contribution / regular participation in any other capacity that shows commitment to HRNZ over a sustained period of time (which goes beyond attendance at events or mere financial membership). This requires at least four relevant and significant examples.
Proven record of ongoing relevant CPD is the same measure as is expected for Chartered Membership and must be evidenced in the application.
Examples of Evidence
The following examples are the type of evidence that may be provided to fulfil the Contribution to HRNZ criteria. They may also be used to evidence other criteria, in a wider context. Examples include but are not limited to:
- Serving a full term on the National Board
- Serving on a Regional Network Committee for at least one year with recognised contribution
- Serving on a Board convened committee or working group (e.g. Grading Panel)
- Presenting at a national conference or summit (in person or by webinar)
- Presenting at a regional event or Specialist Interest Network event
- Convening a Special Interest Network for at least 2 years
- Committee membership of a HRNZ Forum (e.g. Executive Forum, Academic Forum)
- Delivering a PD seminar (in person or via webinar)
- Engaging in the HRNZ LinkedIn page by posting or commenting on the posts of others on a regular basis (not just Likes)
- Writing for the HRNZ magazine
- Winning an award at the HRNZ awards
- Mentoring others via the HRNZ mentoring programme
- Regular participation in any other capacity that shows commitment to HRNZ, which goes beyond attendance at events or financial membership
Sponsorship does not constitute contribution to HRNZ and may not be used as evidence for Chartered Fellowship application.
Sufficient details must be provided (e.g. date of article, year of committee, impact measure of contribution etc.) to enable the assessors to verify the application.
How to apply
1. Confirm your eligibility
Ensure you have been a Chartered Member (CMHRNZ) for at least two years and meet all criteria for Chartered Fellowship. In limited circumstances this timeframe may be waived at the discretion of the Board, but only if you excel to an exceptional level in all other required criteria.
2. Complete the Chartered Fellowship application form
Please make sure all sections of this form are completed. Clearly indicate which criteria you believe you meet and provide a description of how that criteria is met.
3. Update your CV to send alongside your application form
Ensure any relevant supporting evidence is included, particularly evidence of your business contribution, research, teaching, high achievement in the profession, and contribution to HRNZ. Include specific details such as dates, impact measures, and outcomes.
4. Provide evidence of ongoing CPD
Your CPD points are tracked via your Member Account Dashboard. Log in to access your dashboard and ensure your ongoing professional development is up to date. This is the same measure as is expected for Chartered Membership.
5. Arrange your referees
You'll need to provide contact details for two referees, both members of HRNZ, one of whom (where possible) must be a Distinguished or Chartered Fellow. One of these referees must also provide a written reference.
HRNZ’s preference is to seek referee checks from external / non-HRNZ referees to obtain independent perspective on your application.
6. Submit your application
HRNZ calls for applications once per calendar year. However, any Chartered Member who believes they meet the eligibility criteria may apply at any time.
Once you are ready to apply, please send your completed application form and all supporting documents to [email protected].
The Assessment Process
Once you have submitted your application:
- National Office will receive and process your application, including checking that the application is complete and conducting reference checks. National Office may seek further information from you.
- Your application will be considered by the board at the first available board meeting following submission of a complete application. Note that a subcommittee of the board may be asked to review your application and recommend an outcome to the full board.
- You will be notified by phone, and in writing, of the outcome no later than one month after board consideration.
- The board may seek further evidence, or request additional information, and reserve the right to approve or decline Chartered Fellowship nominations at its discretion, whether or not some or all of the criteria are met and without explanation.
- If successful, you will be accredited as a Chartered Fellow and recognised as CFHRNZ.
Frequently Asked Questions
Privacy/Confidentiality
You accept and agree that the information you supply will be shared with your nominated referees, the Chief Executive and the Board. HRNZ will notify you in writing of the outcome of your application. It will only advise the Regional Network where your application was successful. All information shared shall be used only for the purpose for which it is collected - assessing your suitability for Chartered Fellow. All applications for Chartered Fellow status shall be treated in the strictest of confidence.
Explore The Path HR Capability Framework Find out about Professional Accreditation