When unwell: If you're unwell and cannot make it to court, please let us know as soon as possible. It's important to take care of your health and protect the health of others.
Important changes: The Ministry of Justice has updated the Standard Terms and Conditions for Interpreter Services in Courts and Tribunals (Standard Terms).
Most courts and tribunals in Aotearoa New Zealand conduct their hearings in the English language. For many participants, English is not their first language. They may struggle to understand and speak English, which could disadvantage them in the hearing process.
Interpreters are also available for te reo Māori and New Zealand Sign Language, see Going to Court for more information.
Interpreters help ensure all participants get full and fair access to justice throughout the hearing process.
The Quality Framework describes how interpreting should be delivered in courts and tribunals and sets out the conduct we expect of all court-appointed interpreters.
There are three brief online training modules for new and current interpreters. They give an overview of the justice system and an interpreter's role in courts and tribunals.