Chartered Membership
Professional recognition for your HR capability
HRNZ’s Chartered Members are champions of the HR profession
Becoming a Chartered Member ratifies your professional capability as an HR practitioner, whilst demonstrating a commitment to Continuing Professional Development (CPD) and leadership across our HR community in Aotearoa, New Zealand.
Chartered Members are recognised by the post-nominal CMHRNZ.
What is Chartered Membership?
Chartered Member status is achieved by experienced practitioners who meet advanced capability requirements and pass rigorous assessment by HRNZ's independent assessors. Once approved, members are awarded Chartered Member status.
This recognition confirms you operate at the Leads level, demonstrating proven HR leadership, strategic influence, and commitment to professional excellence.
Read our in-depth guide for more details.
Benefits of Chartered Membership
Gain market-wide recognition as a senior HR professional
Use the post-nominals 'CMHRNZ' to signal your professional standing
Keep your knowledge current through structured CPD
Prove your capabilities via robust independent assessment
Stand out to employers with a clear point of differentiation
Build towards Chartered Fellowship status
Enhance your career progression potential
Who can apply for Chartered Membership?
The Chartering process is aimed at experienced HR practitioners, who are committed to, and leading, the profession. Chartered Status is an acknowledgement of your high level of achievement and professionalism as an HR leader. To be eligible, you must:
- Be a current financial member of HRNZ
- Currently be already at, or close to advancing into more, senior-level HR roles
- Demonstrate all core capabilities of The Path HR Capability Framework at the ‘Leads’ Level minimum. This can be in a generalist, or specialist role.
- have experience and expertise in at least three Domains of Knowledge, one of which must be taken from the following:
Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion
Employment Relations
Health, Safety and Wellbeing
Learning and Development
Core Capabilities demonstrated by Chartered Members
| Knowledge of Te Ao Māori | Leads and advocates for initiatives to increase Māori representation in the workplace and the development of a culture that supports success |
| Understands and values People | Advocates and models people values within the organisations and leads a culture that values diversity, inclusion and recognition of individual needs |
| Reads a room or situation | Demonstrates broad operational and functional knowledge when contributing people elements to strategies and business plans |
| Brings people on the journey | Known as a courageous leader, able to maintain an objective and independent stance. Applies mediation and negotiation skills to reach. solutions |
| Solves workplace problems | Able to identify and define people problems and challenges at an organisational level informed by use of people analytics. Demonstrates commercial judgement when considering options and solutions |
| Sees and mitigates risks | Develops an overall policy framework and controls to ensure an organisation meets the full range of employer obligations |
Meet our Chartered Members
How to apply
1. Complete the self-assessment
Quickly find out where you sit on The Path HR Capability Framework. The assessment will indicate your suitability for Chartered Membership. Make sure you save a copy to include with your Application documents
2. Complete the Chartered Membership application form
Please make sure all sections of this form are completed. This includes agreeing to the HRNZ Charter and certifying your application.
3. Update your CV to send alongside your application form
Ensure any relevant supporting evidence is included, for example the initiatives you have been involved with. Include recent roles where you've demonstrated the core capabilities at the Leads Level or above, as well as any Domains of Knowledge you worked within in these roles.
4. Complete the HRNZ Code of Practice Module
This can be completed via the eLearning Platform. Save your Certificate of Completion to send to us with your application.
5. Provide evidence of 25 CPD points completed in last 12 months
Your CPD points are tracked via your Member Account Dashboard. Log in to access your dashboard and add any missing points.
Completing your Chartered Membership Application counts for 15 of the 25 required CPD points. For more information about what you can claim for, check out the CPD Guide.
6. Put together a list of references who can endorse your skills and experience
HRNZ will verify your experience through personally nominated referees that are required as part of the application form. Your referees will receive an online reference template via email to complete.
You’ll need to provide contact details for three referees who can provide a range of different perspectives:
- Managers perspective – someone you have reported to
- Peer perspective – either an HR colleague at the same level or someone from a management team you have been a part of
- Customer perspective – either an internal or external customer
- Direct report- someone who has reported to you or been mentored by you
- Employee – a person who has experienced the product of your work
You may double up on another stakeholder reference in situations where you aren’t able to cover one of the options.
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:
- You’ll receive an acknowledgement of your Application with expected assessment timeframes
- HRNZ will contact your referees to validate the information you have supplied about your capability
- You will be interviewed by 2 members of the assessment panel to discuss your experience and capability and confirm you meet the requirements of Chartered Membership.
Outcome
After your assessment, you will be advised on the outcome of your Chartered Membership application.
- If successful, you will be accredited as a Chartered Member and provided with guidance on how to maintain your status.
- If you are not successful, you will receive feedback on which areas you need to strengthen. This process does not end in a pass or fail; we support you to reach the capabilities required to become Chartered.