The path to professional growth

Chelsea Mapp, Professional Accreditation Manager at HRNZ, shares how The Path, HRNZ’s professional capability framework, is at the heart of a growing suite of development opportunities for members.

WHAT IS THE PATH?

The Path is HRNZ’s professional capability framework, developed specifically for the unique demands on HR practitioners in Aotearoa New Zealand. It sets an industry standard for all HR roles. The Path framework consists of three elements that, together, outline what excellence in HR looks like over several different levels from a basic delivery level, through to a strategic governance level. The three elements are:

• Core Capabilities, six elements that sit at the heart of our framework and capture the essence of good HR practice

• Capability Levels, which outline different levels that an HR practitioner can operate in across their roles and in their careers

• Domains of Knowledge, which represent the different specialist areas of HR.

This structure ensures The Path is not only grounded in best practice but is also adaptable and relevant to the broad spectrum of HR professionals in New Zealand.

We’ve intentionally designed The Path to meet the diverse needs of a wide range of stakeholders without compromising its value to experienced and time- pressured HR practitioners. At its heart, it enables a shared understanding of what great HR looks like, grounded in the six core capabilities. However, its application is as varied as the profession itself.

A Versatile Tool For Many Users

The Path is more than a framework. It’s a practical, flexible tool with real-world value across the HR ecosystem. Here’s how it can be used.

• Individual practitioners can use it at any stage of their careers to identify their current level of capability and plan their development.

• Leaders can use it as a development and planning tool to identify their teams’ strengths and areas to grow their capability.

• Recruiters and hiring managers can use it to identify the main capabilities, create clear and realistic role profiles, assess candidates and build job descriptions.

• Business owners or non-HR folks can use it to understand what expertise they may need when recruiting an HR expert to deliver on operational and strategic outcomes.

Whether you’re stepping into your first HR coordinator role, managing a specialist function, or shaping organisation-wide people strategies at the executive table, The Path offers a clear and structured route for progression. It provides the confidence of knowing where you stand today and the clarity of knowing how to take the next step.

A Foundation For Growth

For many HRNZ members, The Path acts as both a mirror and a motivator. Through our self-assessment tool aligned directly with the framework, HR professionals can evaluate their current level of capability and identify the areas where growth is needed. But recognising where you are is only the beginning. At HRNZ, we support you to take the next step.

Everything we offer, from our learning opportunities to our resources, events and accreditation, has been designed to complement The Path and support your development journey. Once you’ve identified your position on The Path, we provide the tools, learning and recognition to help you advance.

Our extensive range of professional development opportunities, including courses, summits, webinars and an online learning portal, are all mapped to the capabilities within The Path. This deliberate alignment ensures that every learning experience is strategic and targeted. It’s not just about gaining knowledge; it’s about building the specific skills and behaviour that move you forward in your career.

From Learning To Accreditation

Professional development doesn’t stop at gaining knowledge. HRNZ’s professional accreditation framework is grounded in our commitment to raising standards across the HR profession. It reflects what good HR looks like today and what it needs to be tomorrow.

That’s where HRNZ accreditation plays an important role.

We offer four professional designations.

• Accredited Member: for early career HR professionals who have started a career in HR and are committed to the profession and continuing professional development.

• Chartered Member: for experienced HR professionals who are committed to and leading the profession, and demonstrating a high level of their professional capabilities.

• Chartered Fellow: longstanding HR professionals who have contributed highly to the profession and HRNZ.

• Distinguished Fellow: for time-honoured HR professionals who have contributed a lifetime of dedication to the profession and HRNZ.

This article focuses on the growing interest in Accredited and Chartered Membership within Aotearoa. Becoming accredited is the first step in joining a community of HR professionals committed to excellence, integrity and purpose. It’s more than just a credential. It’s a robust recognition of your experience, a benchmark of your practice against industry standards, and a commitment to ongoing development that’s relevant, future-focused and meaningful.

When you pursue accreditation, you are assessed against the same capabilities that shape your development journey, within our capability framework of The Path. Your learning, experience and achievements all contribute to your application, creating a direct link between your day-to-day work and your professional recognition.

Launch Of HR Charter Assist

In December 2024, HRNZ undertook extensive research into its Chartered Accreditation Process. The report highlighted important opportunities to strengthen the programme and that our members are wanting more support from HRNZ to prepare their application.

In response, HRNZ is excited to announce the launch of Charter Assist, a new support service designed to support our members in becoming Chartered.

Charter Assist is a personalised support service designed to guide eligible HR professionals through the Charter Member application. You’ll get up to four hours of expert assistance from an experienced coach at HRNZ, to help you to:

• understand what’s required at each step

• take you through the self-assessment

• present you with an executive summary of your experience to support your application

• select and brief your referees

• if you are not ready to become Chartered the HRNZ coach will offer postchartering support for up to 12 months and will include high-level development goals to focus on to become Chartered-ready.

Whether you’re feeling unsure, time-poor or just want an experienced sounding board, Charter Assist can help you put your best foot forward. To learn more about this service, please visit our website.

Becoming Chartered is a professional milestone that recognises your impact, credibility and commitment to excellence in HR. It signals to peers, employers and the broader business community that you are operating at a strategic level and consistently delivering value.

Becoming Chartered is a professional milestone that recognises your impact, credibility and commitment to excellence in HR.

Professional Development In Practice

HRNZ publishes stories of its Accredited and Chartered Members. This offers our audience insight into their background and what becoming Chartered means for them.

Take the story of Kirsten Beggs, Human Resources Director at Dentsu, who shared her story of becoming Chartered. Kirsten’s story illustrates how HRNZ’s Chartered Membership recognises and celebrates the diverse paths professionals take in their HR careers. “Having the Chartered Membership for me wasn’t about progressing my career but more about affirmation for my work over the years.” You can find more success stories on our website or in our magazine

Supporting Teams And Organisations

While The Path is designed for individuals, it has enormous value for HR leaders and organisations, too. Many HR directors use the framework as the basis for team capability assessments, development planning and succession strategies.

At HRNZ, we offer team development support, where we can go into organisations and take people through what a selfassessment looks like. We also provide in-depth information on our capability framework and how it ties into our professional accreditation process.

Recently, Chief Executive of HRNZ Nick McKissack and I have been connecting with recruitment companies across Wellington to demonstrate how The Path can be used in the recruitment process. The response has been overwhelmingly positive. One recruiter from Inside Recruitment shared:

We really appreciated the way you broke down what great HR looks like across different levels – from nailing the basics through to driving things at a strategic, governance level.

It’s clear that The Path not only supports individual development but also provides valuable clarity for hiring managers, enabling them to identify the right capabilities for the right roles.

If this is something you are interested in, please contact me at: Chelsea.mapp@hrnz.org.nz

LOOKING AHEAD: FUTUREREADY HR

As we move through 2025 and beyond, the HR landscape in Aotearoa is evolving rapidly. From the rise of AI and automation to climate change impacts on workforce strategy, and the growing importance of bicultural capability and global mobility, HR professionals are navigating increasingly complex terrain.

HRNZ is here to support its members to lead with confidence and clarity through this change. That’s why we’re continually reviewing and refining our course offerings, and evolving our accreditation processes to stay aligned with the realities of practice in New Zealand.

We’re committed to keeping our content current, responsive and rooted in the context of the world we live and work in. Keep an eye on the HRNZ website for newly released courses and updates.

START YOUR PATH TODAY

Whether you’re just beginning your HR journey or preparing to become accredited, HRNZ is here to support you every step of the way. The Path offers a clear view of where you are and where you’re headed and our professional development offerings are designed to help you get there.

Explore courses, complete a self-assessment, or learn more about accreditation at www. hrnz.org.nz.

Your development is our mission. People. Power. Success.

Chelsea Mapp joined HRNZ in January 2025 as the Professional Accreditation Manager, where she is responsible for overseeing the Accreditation and Chartering programmes to support HR professionals on their journey to certification. With a diverse background spanning both international and New Zealand-based roles, Chelsea brings a wealth of experience across various HR disciplines. Her career includes expertise in Mobility and Immigration, Recruitment, Diversity and Inclusion, Health and Wellbeing, Payroll, Employment Relations, Te Ao Māori, Performance Management, and Policy Development. Chelsea has worked in both commercial and government sectors, giving her a comprehensive understanding of the HR landscape and a strong commitment to supporting the growth and development of HR professionals.