Article published in:
Ethics of Non-Professional Translation and InterpretingEdited by Esther Monzó-Nebot and Melissa Wallace
[Translation and Interpreting Studies 15:1] 2020
► pp. 15–35
Professional, ethical, and policy dimensions of public service interpreting and translation in New Zealand
Vanessa Enríquez Raído | University of Auckland
Ineke Crezee | Auckland University of Technology
Quintin Ridgeway | New Zealand Government Translation Service
This article reviews the practical, ethical, and policymaking dimensions of public service interpreting and
translation in New Zealand. It shows that the country has had a limited tradition in translation and interpreting and that
historically bilingual community members have been asked to perform T&I without specific training. Our review also reveals
that several factors may explain the ongoing use of non-professionals across public settings: the availability of bilingual staff
and community volunteers, the misrecognition of the T&I role, difficulties around procurement of highly skilled practitioners,
and cost concerns. Policymakers and other members of the community have identified that these factors can negatively impact
quality standards and professional ethics, as seen in the government’s recent initiative to regulate and professionalize the
sector. We report on this initiative and our advisory role concerning the endorsement of a teleological approach to professional
ethics.
Keywords: public service interpreting and translation, non-professional interpreters and translators, language service provision, professional ethics, policymaking
Article outline
- Introduction
- The PSIT sector in New Zealand
- Government reviews of the PSIT sector
- The LAS Project
- Our role as academic advisers
- Teleological ethics in codes of practice and tertiary education in New Zealand
- Accuracy
- Impartiality
- Clarity of role boundaries
- Conclusions, discussion, and future directions
- Notes
-
References
Published online: 17 February 2020
https://doi.org/10.1075/tis.20007.enr
https://doi.org/10.1075/tis.20007.enr
References
Abulah v R [2011] NZSC 130
Antonini, Rachele, Leticia Cirillo, Linda Rossato, and Ira Torresi
Auckland District Health Board
2006 “Interpreter service operations manual.” http://novahealth.co.nz/wp-content/uploads/2016/08/interpreter-manual.pdf. Last accessed 8 January 2020.
Australian Institute of Interpreters and Translators
2012 AUSIT Code of Ethics and Code of Conduct. https://ausit.org/AUSIT/Documents/Code_Of_Ethics_Full.pdf. Last accessed 8 January 2020.
Baker, Mona
2013 Ethics in the translation and interpreting curriculum. Surveying and rethinking the pedagogical landscape. Report commissioned by the Higher Education Academy. Higher Education Academy. https://monabaker.org/post/ethics-in-the-translation-and-interpreting-curriculum/. Last accessed 8 January 2020.
Baker, Mona and Carol Maier
Baumane-Vitolina, Ilona, Igo Cals, and Erika Sumilo
Baumane-Vītoliņa, Ilona, et al.
Cambridge, Jan
Clark, Diana
Crezee, Ineke and Mele Tupou Gordon
Crezee, Ineke and Shirly Jülich
Dean, Robyn K. and Robert Q. Pollard
Gentile, Paola
2017 “Political ideology and the de-professionalisation of public service interpreting: The Netherlands and the United Kingdom as case studies.” In Ideology, Ethics and Policy Development in Public Service Interpreting and Translation, ed. by Carmen Valero Garcés and Rebecca Tipton, 63–83. Bristol: Multilingual Matters. 

Gray, Ben, Jo Hilder, and Maria Stubbe
Gray, Ben, et al.
Hale, Sandra
IMIA (International Medical Interpreters Association)
1987 “AMITAS Code of Ethics for Medical Interpreters and Translators.” www.tradulex.com/Regles/ethAMITAS.htm. Last accessed 8 January 2020.
Immigration New Zealand
2015 “New Zealand Migrant Settlement and Integration Strategy.” www.immigration.govt.nz/about-us/what-we-do/our-strategies-and-projects/settlement-strategy. Last accessed 22 August 2019.
Kalina, Sonia
Kivalu, Mary Jane
2017 “Interpretation/translation services in NZ DHBs and how it affects Pacific patients.” Paper presented at the
Annual Conference – Spreading the Word: Transcending Boundaries and Enriching Lives
, Auckland, 10–11 June 2017.
Lee, Melanie, et al.
2018 “Using interpreters: The patient’s right to understand and be understood.” Health Central Future Focus, March 1 2018 https://healthcentral.nz/using-interpreters-the-patients-right-to-understand-and-be-understood/. Last accessed 8 January 2020.
Magill, Delys and Kim de Jong
Martín Ruano, Maria Rosario
2017 “Developing public service translation and interpreting under the paradigm of recognition: Towards diversity-sensitive discourses on ethics in PSIT.” In Ideology, Ethics and Policy Development in Public Service Interpreting and Translation, ed. by Carmen Valero Garcés and Rebecca Tipton, 21–37. Bristol: Multilingual Matters. 

New Zealand Society of Translators and Interpreters
2013 NZSTI Code of Ethics and Code of Conduct. www.nzsti.org/assets/uploads/files/nzsti_code_of_ethics_and_code_of_conduct_may_2013.pdf. Last accessed 8 January 2020.
McGrath, Caroline and Kate Mitchell
Metzger, Melanie
Meylaerts, Reine
Meylaerts, Reine and Gabriel González Núñez
Mikkelson, Holly
Ministry of Business, Innovation and Employment (New Zealand)
2016 “Fair and Accessible Public Services: Summary Report on the Use of Interpreters and Other Language Assistance in New Zealand.” www.immigration.govt.nz/documents/about-us/summary-report-fair-and-accessible-public-services.pdf. Last accessed 8 January 2020.
2019 “Language Assistance Services Project. What you need to know.” www.immigration.govt.nz/documents/about-us/project-information-sheet.pdf. Last accessed 8 January 2020.
Ministry of Justice (New Zealand)
2016 “Guidelines for Interpreters.” www.justice.govt.nz/about/lawyers-and-service-providers/service-providers/interpreting-in-courts-and-tribunals/guidelines-for-interpreters/. Last accessed 8 January 2020.
New Zealand Legislation
1987 “Māori Language Act 1987.” www.legislation.govt.nz/act/public/1987/0176/latest/whole.html. Last accessed 8 January 2020.
1989 “Oranga Tamariki Act 1989” [Children’s and Young People’s Well-Being Act 1989]. http://legislation.govt.nz/act/public/1989/0024/latest/DLM147088.html. Last accessed 8 January 2020.
1990 “New Zealand Bill of Rights Act 1990.” http://legislation.govt.nz/act/public/1990/0109/latest/DLM224792.html. Last accessed 8 January 2020.
1993 “Human Rights Act 1993.” http://www.legislation.govt.nz/act/public/1993/0082/60.0/DLM304212.html. Last accessed 8 January 2020.
1994 “Health and Disability Commissioner (Code of Health and Disability Services Consumers’ Rights) Regulations 1996.” www.legislation.govt.nz/act/public/1994/0088/latest/DLM333584.html. Last accessed 8 January 2020.
Office of Ethnic Affairs (New Zealand)
Office of Ethnic Communities (New Zealand)
2016 “How Language Line Works.” www.ethniccommunities.govt.nz/language-line/. Last accessed 22 August 2019.
Ozolins, Uldis
Pöchhacker, Franz and Miriam Shlesinger
Schäffner, Christina and Beverly Adab
Singham, Miriam
Tipton, Rebecca
Del Torto, Lisa M.
United Nations General Assembly
1948 “Universal Declaration of Human Rights,” 217 (III) A. Paris. www.un.org/en/universal-declaration-human-rights/. Last accessed 22 August 2019.
Valero Garcés, Carmen and Rebecca Tipton
Webb, Duncan
Cited by
Cited by 2 other publications
Crezee, Ineke & Agustina Marianacci
Monzó-Nebot, Esther
This list is based on CrossRef data as of 11 november 2021. Please note that it may not be complete. Sources presented here have been supplied by the respective publishers. Any errors therein should be reported to them.