New Zealand Citizenship Office.
Please note that the New Zealand Citizenship Office only accept translations of certain translation agencies. Please contact them for more information. (01/11/2006)

Drivers' Licences.
Land and Transport New Zealand has decided to review its policy regarding translation of overseas drivers' licences. For this reason they have called for submissions from translators and translation agencies. At this stage, they are in the process of reviewing these applications. If you need your driver's licence translated please check with Land and Transport New Zealand for more information on translations. (15/09/2006)

New Zealand Society of Translators and Interpreters Annual Conference - Upper Hutt, New Zealand - 3-5 June 2006.
More than 70 Translators and Interpreters from all around New Zealand and Australia gathered in Upper Hutt City, 40 minutes north of Wellington, during the Queens Birthday weekend for their national annual conference. Translators and interpreters came together for a weekend of knowledge and friendship, to meet new faces and to greet old friends and colleagues. The Conference this year was focused mainly on the state of interpreting in New Zealand, with many papers and discussions on the subject, and on Te Reo Maori, as a celebration of its new status as official Language of New Zealand. The workshops and presentations were very inspiring and thought provoking, and those in attendance took something from each presenter. Attendees enjoyed a very varied programme organised by the NZSTI Wellington Branch - Conference Committee. Across the three-day conference, there were presentations by much respected figures such as the Director of the Office of Ethnic Affairs, Mr Mervin Singham, Mr Haami Piripi, CEO of Te Taura Whiri i Te Reo Maori, Dr. Frank Austermühl from the University of Auckland, Naomi Tocher, Director of the Wellington Community Interpreting Service, and many other higly respected practitioners. The topics ranged from translating politics, interpreting for the Waitangi Tribunal, simultaneous interpreting for Powhiri, Dutch settlers in Japan, translating literature: Janet Frame and Patricia Grace, health and safety for interpreters, personal experiences of a translator and interpreter, "Semantic Exclusion Zones", whether to interpret or not and the challenges to the Code of Ethics, and a panel on the state of interpreting in NZ. The programme also included a varied assortment of leisure activities such as a very enjoyable session of 'poetry exchange', where different professionals read their own poetry, their favourite poems in their own language and there was even some attempt at translating some wonderful pieces. This was followed by a lovely meal with musical accompaniment by two very talented local translators. On Sunday night, despite the weather, a large group visited a Carter's Observatory and then dined in a nearby restaurant. The three day conference was full on and really worth it.
Next year it will be held in Christchurch, New Zealand.
Email us if you are interested in attending. (07/05/2006)