40 years, 40 Stories

In 1985, the Institute of Personnel Management formed. In 1995, the organisation was renamed the Human Resources Institute of New Zealand. In 2025, HRNZ celebrates its 40 years of people-powered success. In each issue of Human Resources magazine this year, we share 10 remarkable stories from past and present members, charting our four decades of the HR profession.

Dr Deepika Jindal

CMHRNZ, Professional Teaching Fellow, University of Auckland

WHAT HAVE BEEN YOUR CAREER HIGHLIGHTS TO DATE?

Walking into the SkyCity Convention Centre for the HRNZ annual awards ceremony on 22 February 2018 is a memory I cherish deeply. From the moment I arrived, I was in awe of the profound impact HRNZ was making on the national stage and the awardees who were positively transforming lives and communities. Since then, the awards have only grown in prominence, bringing greater visibility and poise to the HR profession. It’s a beautiful celebration of everything we stand for in HR. Here’s to the next 40 years of continuous celebration and increasing the impact of HR!

Editor note: Deepika was awarded HR Person of the Year and Leadership Award at this year’s NZ HR Awards.

Kirsten (KP) Patterson

DistFHRNZ, Chief Executive, Institute of Directors New Zealand

WHAT ARE THE SIGNIFICANT MOMENTS THAT HAVE SHAPED HRNZ?

HRNZ has been shaped by significant milestones, like its establishment 40 years ago, setting a foundation for professional HR standards in New Zealand. The launch of certification programmes elevated HR as a profession, ensuring credibility and excellence. Another pivotal moment was the focus on diversity and inclusion, driving change across workplaces. The shift to digital learning during the COVID-19 pandemic was also transformative, making HR knowledge accessible nationwide. Finally, HRNZ’s advocacy for workplace wellbeing has firmly established its reputation as a leader in shaping better workplaces for Aotearoa New Zealand.

Professor Peter Boxall

DistFHRNZ

WHAT ARE THE SIGNIFICANT MOMENTS THAT HAVE SHAPED HRNZ?

An important step in the life of HRNZ was the formation of the Academic Branch in the late 2000s. A vital part of this was HRNZ’s approval to admit academics to professional (now Chartered) Membership based on what they had achieved in the core tasks of their academic jobs (teaching, research and service/leadership in HRM). This, as far as I am aware, was a world first. The Academic Branch has increasingly proved its worth in providing research expertise to HRNZ, enhancing the links between students and HRNZ, and enriching the various relationships between ‘town and gown’ in the development of HRM.

Karli te Aotonga

CMHRNZ, HRNZ Board Director

WHAT ARE THE SIGNIFICANT MOMENTS THAT HAVE SHAPED HRNZ?

Legacy is about being who your ancestors need you to be. Forty years ago in 1985, much of the groundwork was taking place in Aotearoa paving the way for the introduction of the Māori Language Act 1987 as part of the revitalisation of te reo Māori. The Waitangi Tribunal’s powers were extended, allowing historical claims of breaches by the Crown dating back to the signing of te Tiriti o Waitangi in 1840. Māori expression of mana motuhake was growing through political activism in pursuit of justice and the reclamation of land, language and culture. Everything about our profession is connected to these legacies from Tāngata Whenua and Tāngata Tiriti alike. These legacies provide the pathway for HRNZ to shape and influence a prosperous future for all in Aotearoa for the next 40 years, and the pae tawhiti of 1,000 years. Whāia te mātauranga, kia mārama, kia tipu, kia tiaki i ngā whenua, ngā moana, ngā arawai, kia whai take ngā mahi katoa. Aroha atu, aroha mai, tātou i a tātou. Toi te kupu, toi te mana, toitū te Tiriti, toitū te whenua. Haumi ē, hui ē, tāiki ē!

Danni Ermilova Williams

CMHRNZ, HRNZ Board Chair, Director of DEW Coaching and Change Consultancy

WHAT ARE THE SIGNIFICANT MOMENTS THAT HAVE SHAPED HRNZ?

We define our future by the choices we make today. How will we, as HR professionals, step into this moment with courage and vision to shape the future human experience at work? In a world facing accelerating, profound change, ensuring humans thrive is essential for building strategic advantage, safeguarding systemic resilience and securing our future. There has never been a more critical moment to lead and shape the future, by challenging outdated paradigms, amplifying diverse voices, fostering curiosity and creating workplaces driven by purpose and equity. The defining moment for humans who champion humans is now. What will your legacy be?

Happy 40th (midlife crisis), HRNZ, from one 40-to-be, to another.

Denise HartleyWilkins

DistFHRNZ, Director, Shine People Consulting

WHAT DO YOU LOVE ABOUT HRNZ?

I am proud, grateful and humbled to be part of the HRNZ community. When I arrived in New Zealand over 20 years ago, HRNZ welcomed me with open arms, making my transition to Aotearoa so much easier. I became a volunteer, joined Branch committees, and later served as an Elected Director and National President. Our volunteers –Branch committees, mentors, accreditation assessors and Board directors – are the heartbeat of HRNZ. A standout achievement was launching Chartered Membership, a first for New Zealand HR professionals, driven entirely by volunteers. As we reflect on 40 years, Margaret Mead’s words resonate: “Never doubt that a small group of thoughtful, committed citizens can change the world; indeed, it’s the only thing that ever has.”

Debbie Dawson

CFHRNZ, HR Coach and Consultant

WHAT’S YOUR BEST MEMORY OF HRNZ?

I first joined the HRNZ Board in 2007. They were heady days when a lot of the work was done by volunteer committees working closely with the small number of paid staff. We have always been fortunate to have great professional leadership in our head office. I fondly recall the energy and tenacity of Bev Main, in particular, who managed to secure Dave Ulrich for our 2013 conference, which was a real coup. While we in HR are sometimes misunderstood, our goal endures and remains the same: improving the world of work for our people and ultimately our community’s prosperity and wellbeing.

Gillian Brookes

CFHRNZ, Workforce Strategy and Flexible Work Specialist

HOW CAN HRNZ BUILD ON ITS LEGACY IN THE NEXT 40 YEARS?

HRNZ shapes and supports our profession at a time when more is demanded from HR than ever before. As the leaders of our profession drive more insight and strategy within our organisations, we will bump up against outdated employment legislation. In the coming generation, I expect HRNZ and its members will gain a voice beyond the organisation level and become more involved in shaping government policy. It’s an inevitable path if we are going to keep pace with changes, instead of lagging far behind, so we have the right foundations for the New Zealand workforce to thrive, economically and more broadly.

Kavita Khanna

CFHRNZ, Current President HRNZ

HOW CAN HRNZ BUILD ON ITS LEGACY IN THE NEXT 40 YEARS?

Our work is never done. As a profession, we hold a deep responsibility: to stand up for what is right, to challenge outdated thinking and to create workplaces that reflect the best of us. It takes courage to hold that space, heart to advocate for fairness and connection, and wisdom to keep learning, adapting and thriving. As kaitiaki of the profession, I see HRNZ continuing to serve its members: through whanaungatanga, strengthening connections; through manaakitanga, uplifting others and through ako, enabling learning and adapting to help HR to lead. The next 40 years will demand bold thinking and deep care. The world of work will keep changing, what we’re called as a profession may shift, and the way we do our work will evolve. But at the heart of it all, our purpose will remain: to be the profession that leads NZ Inc. to be a space where people grow and communities thrive. And let’s be honest; our profession has been the one making workplaces work and reminding everyone that culture is not something you grow in the back of the cupboard or in a Petri dish!

Geoff Summers

DistFHRNZ, HRNZ President 2005–2006, Chair, Remuneration Authority

WHO ARE YOUR UNSUNG HEROES OF HRNZ?

The most important activity that occurs within HRNZ happens at Branch events, not necessarily during the presentations or debates, but before and afterwards when the networking occurs. The connections HR practitioners develop in these situations are not visible but often result in having someone to bounce something off during a difficult project or to ask a difficult question they do not want to ask at work. No one sees these important outcomes, yet they are there, and they are numerous. So my unsung heroes are all the Branch committee members who facilitate these vital connections.