What an interpreter does

Important changes: The Ministry of Justice has introduced a new Quality Framework for interpreting services.
Read the Quality Framework

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 help ensure all participants receive full, fair, and equal access to justice throughout the hearing process.

Interpreters are usually requested by the party needing one, their counsel or the court. The court needs at least 10 working days before the hearing to arrange an interpreter. Please fill in this form and give it to the court: Request for an interpreter [PDF, 161 KB]

What an interpreter does

An interpreter interprets for an individual person participating in a hearing, for example:

  • a party to a case – this may be an applicant, plaintiff, defendant, respondent, or appellant
  • a witness giving evidence in a case.

Interpreters also aid other members of the court or tribunal including:

  • the presiding officer of the court or tribunal who will make the decision in a case – this may be a judge, chair, referee, or adjudicator
  • lawyers or representatives appearing for the crown, a prosecuting authority, or parties to a case
  • the jury, if the case is a jury trial
  • victims, for example in a criminal case
  • media reporting the hearing
  • the public, if it’s an open hearing.

An interpreter may need to attend a court or tribunal hearing in person or by teleconference.

Te Reo Māori & New Zealand Sign Language

You have the right to speak te reo Māori or use New Zealand Sign Language in court. It’s free if the court arranges an interpreter for you to do this.

Speak te reo Māori

You’ll need to fill in a form and give it to the court and every other party to the case at least 10 working days before you need to be at court. This gives the court time to arrange an interpreter.

Please fill in this form: Notice of intention to speak Māori: Notice of intention to speak Māori [PDF, 233 KB]

Use New Zealand Sign Language

You’ll need to fill in a form at least 10 working days before you need to be at court. This gives the court time to arrange an interpreter.

Please fill in this form: Request for an interpreter [PDF, 161 KB]

Note: if you have a preferred interpreter or the interpreter required needs to be a particular gender, you can include this information on the request form.

Conduct expected from interpreters

The expected behaviours for court-appointed interpreters are set out in the code of conduct section within the Quality Framework.

The Ministry of Justice expects interpreters to:

  • comply with the New Zealand Society of Translators and Interpreters (NZSTI) Code of Ethics and Code of Conduct (regardless of whether or not the interpreter is a member of Te Rōpū Kaiwhakamāori ā-waha, ā-tuhi o Aotearoa/ the New Zealand Society of Translators and Interpreters, and
  • for interpreters interpreting to and/or from sign language, comply with the SLIANZ Code of Ethics and Code of Conduct (regardless of whether or not the interpreter is a member of Te Rōpū o Ngā Kaiwhakamārama Reo Turi o Aotearoa/ the Sign Language Interpreters’ Association of New Zealand).

Interpreters must adhere to the expectations set out in the quality framework or they could be subject to the Ministry’s complaints process, or in breach of the Ministry’s Standard Terms and Conditions for Interpreter Services in Court and Tribunals (Standard Terms), which apply to every booking.

Read the Ministry of Justice Interpreters Service Quality Framework
Read more about the complaints process
Read our Ministry's Standard Terms

Become an interpreter for courts or tribunals

Interpreting in courts and tribunals is a specialist skill. You can read more about the Ministry’s requirements for interpreters in the Quality Framework.

To be eligible to deliver interpreter services in New Zealand courts or tribunals a person must:

  • be a New Zealand citizen or hold a permanent resident visa, or an appropriate working visa
  • be proficient speaking English (including commonly used medical and legal terminology)
  • hold, or be working towards an appropriate interpreting credential or credentials, as set out in qualification or certification requirements

See the full list of the qualifications [PDF, 203 KB] the Ministry will accept. 

Language Service Providers (LSPs) must supply interpreters who meet this eligibility criteria for work in courts and tribunals.

To be eligible to become an interpreter for the Ministry of Justice, you must have undertaken a criminal record check within the last six months and notified us of any convictions.

Request a copy of your criminal record

You can register your interest in becoming a court-appointed interpreter by emailing the following information to interpreters@justice.govt.nz

To become an interpreter for the Immigration Protection Tribunal, contact the contact the Refugee Status Unit of Immigration New Zealand (MBIE)(external link).

 
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