Proposal for closure of ITP

ITP is at a turning point. The Board has concluded that the only responsible path is to close ITP and move into liquidation. Under our constitution, that decision cannot happen without a vote of the membership.

We know this is difficult news. None of us wanted to reach this point. But the full scale of the debts, the expiry of the BCS CITP licence, and the wider pressures facing membership organisations mean that ITP is no longer sustainable in its current form.

Your vote at the upcoming Special General Meeting will decide whether we can draw a clean line under this chapter and move forward to secure a new home for professional recognition in New Zealand.

The Board recommends a “yes” vote to allow members to move forward without delay.

Our priorities are simple:

• Manage closure with integrity and transparency.

• Secure a new, sustainable home for members, certifications, and professional recognition.

Key information at a glance

• Vote required: Members will decide on liquidation at the upcoming Special General Meeting. The Board recommends a “yes” vote.

• Why: The model for ITP has become unsustainable. Longstanding unrecoverable debts, the expiry of the BCS CITP licence, wider struggles facing membership organisations, and tough economic conditions all combined to make continuation impossible.

• Financial details: Most recent accounts will be shared once we have legal advice. Some historic filings are missing due to auditor shortages. Full details will be released later by the liquidator.

• Membership fees: Do not pay renewals. Existing invoices should still be paid.

• Certifications: CITPNZ, CTech, HFITP remain part of your record. Renewals and ongoing validation will stop once ITP closes.

• CITP licence: Current holders keep their designation until renewal. After that, you must transfer to BCS (UK).

• Free transfers to BCS are available.

• New and pending CITP applications through ITP are closed.

• See details on CITP and BCS certification here.

• Liability: Members are not personally liable for ITP’s debts.

• How to help: Vote at the Special General Meeting, support the transfer of certifications, and stay constructive while the volunteer Board manages the process.

Why is ITP proposing closure?

Earlier this year the Board set up a Finance Committee to review our accounts. That review showed that ITP had been carrying debts that, on paper, made us look solvent. In reality, many of those debts were not being paid and over time became unrecoverable.

The true scale of the problem only became clear in the past two weeks. At the same time, our licence with BCS to administer the Chartered IT Professional (CITP) designation expired. That licence carried requirements and financial obligations that ITP could no longer meet.

Beyond these immediate triggers, the deeper issue is that ITP’s operating model has become unsustainable. Membership organisations across many industries are struggling with declining engagement and rising costs, and the current economic climate has made it even harder. A cash injection or one-off bailout would not have fixed these underlying problems.

Taken together, these factors mean there is no viable path forward in the current form. The Board believes liquidation is the only responsible option, but members will decide.

We know people will want to understand what happened, and so do we. Once this urgent phase is complete, the Board will look at how we can investigate the causes more fully and share those lessons.

Financial information update — 17 October 2025

The most recent financial information for ITP NZ is now available, and these have been supplied by our accountant who has prepared them pro bono. This includes:

• Profit and Loss reports for the past three years

• A Balance Sheet covering 2023–2025

• A projected cashflow for the months ahead

Together, these reports show that while some costs have been reduced, income has declined significantly since 2023 and the organisation now carries more debt than assets. The cashflow projection confirms that even with further savings, there is no path to recovery.

These figures confirm ITP’s insolvency and form the basis for the proposal to liquidate the organisation. Members will have the opportunity to vote on this at the upcoming Special General Meeting on 23 October.

The Financial Reports:

If you have any questions about these reports, please email questions@itp.nz

What liquidation means

Liquidation would mean the end of ITP NZ as a legal entity, but it does not mean the end of the ITP community. The network of members, professionals, and supporters remains strong. The Board has been exploring where that community — and the professional standards it represents — can find a new, sustainable home.

Further updates will be shared here as those discussions progress.

Why your vote matters

All fully paid up members are eligible and encouraged to vote. The vote will be held at the Special General Meeting (SGM) on Thursday 23 October.

ITP cannot move into liquidation without the support of members. A “yes” vote at the SGM will:

• Allow the community to move quickly to secure a new home for certifications and professional recognition.

• Ensure debts are dealt with properly and transparently through the liquidation process.

• Protect the reputation of members and the value of existing certifications.

• Give closure on the past so we can focus on the future.

A “no” vote would leave ITP in limbo and put more at risk.

Membership fees and payments

• Renewals and new memberships: Please do not make any further renewal payments. ITP cannot process them, and refunds are not possible under liquidation law.

• Existing invoices or debts: If you already owe money to ITP (for example, for events, services, or other outstanding invoices), those payments should still be made. These form part of the organisation’s accounts and will be managed through the liquidation process.

We know this distinction may feel frustrating, but it is the fairest and most responsible way to manage ITP’s obligations while the membership decides on closure.

Certifications and professional recognition

Your certifications and post-nominals (CITPNZ, CTech, HFITP, etc.) remain part of your professional record. What ends is ITP’s ability to renew or administer them.

Our focus now is on finding a responsible new home for professional recognition in New Zealand so members are not left stranded. We are in discussions with relevant organisations to explore options.

The separate CITP licence with BCS has already expired and is no longer managed by ITP. If you currently hold CITP, you will need to arrange membership directly with BCS to maintain that status. See our CITP and BCS information page for details.

CITP licence has ended

The agreement between ITP and BCS (UK) expired on 9 September 2025. Over time ITP had not been able to meet all of the requirements of that licence, and BCS chose not to continue.

• Current CITP holders keep their designation until their next renewal date.

• After renewal, you must transfer directly to BCS (becoming MBCS) to maintain your Chartered IT Professional status.

• All new or pending CITP applications through ITP are closed.

• See details on CITP and BCS certification here.

• The expiry of the licence, and the obligations that came with it, was one of the immediate factors in the last two weeks that led the Board to recommend liquidation.

Could ITP have been saved?

We explored options including fundraising, government support, and member contributions. Unfortunately, the debts were too large and the underlying issues too deep for these to work. A one-off bailout would not have fixed the structural problems facing ITP or other membership organisations in this climate.

Why we cannot simply “make more money”
This question has come up often, so we want to be clear:

• The debts are significant and built up over many years.

• Even if we raised more revenue through fees or new initiatives, the underlying operating model is unsustainable.

• Membership organisations across industries are under pressure from declining engagement, rising costs, and tough economic conditions.

• A temporary cash injection would only delay closure, not prevent it.

That is why the Board’s focus is on securing a new, sustainable home for members and certifications, rather than trying to prop up a model that no longer works.

What happens to ITP’s assets?

Escrow, ITP’s main asset, will most likely be sold as part of the liquidation process. The liquidator will make that decision.

Are members personally liable?

No. Members are not personally liable for ITP’s debts. Your obligations end with your membership.

How can you help?

Many of you have reached out offering to help, and that means a great deal. Right now the most important ways to support are:

• Take part in the upcoming Special General Meeting.

• Vote in favour of liquidation, so we can secure a new home for certifications and professional recognition.

• Be patient and constructive. The Board are all volunteers, working with very limited resources.

Your encouragement and belief in this community are what will carry it into the future, wherever it finds its new home.

Please, direct any questions to questions@itp.nz and they will be answered as soon as practicable. Meanwhile this page will be updated as appropriate.