This page presents the full written history of NZSTI — a detailed account of the people, events, and milestones that have shaped the Society since its inception. It offers valuable insight into how NZSTI has grown, adapted, and advocated for the language services profession across Aotearoa New Zealand.
It also highlights a few of the many volunteers who have generously given their time, energy, and expertise over the years. Their contributions have been vital to NZSTI’s growth and ongoing support of the language services profession in Aotearoa New Zealand.
Many thanks to Kathryn Malan, Wendy Dawson and Hannah Burdekin for their work in 2025 to research, collate and verify all the information and to write this history of NZSTI.
The New Zealand Society of Translators and Interpreters (NZSTI) has a rich and evolving history shaped by the dedication of language professionals across the country. This page traces the Society’s journey, from its early beginnings as a fledgling association to the respected professional organisation it is today.
The genesis of change
Before the 1980s, translation and interpreting in Aotearoa New Zealand resembled a cottage industry – small-scale, fragmented, limited reference material, variable quality, and no formal training courses for translators or interpreters. From the mid-1980s, however, the landscape began to shift. The government’s Translation Service, which employed around 11 staff at the time, started charging for much of its work and began producing translations to support the country’s growing export sector. This period also saw the rapid introduction of new technologies: first the fax machine, then computers, and finally the internet – each of which had a transformative impact on the profession. The internet, in particular, enabled translators and interpreters to work easily with clients around the globe.
In the early 1980s, translation agency owner-operator Patrick Delhaye invited Bill Aldridge from Wellington to attend a meeting in Auckland with a small group of local translators and interpreters. It was there that the idea of forming a national association was born. Drafting a constitution took several years, with one of the biggest challenges being the need to find 15 practitioners, including reputable academics, to sign the deed of incorporation – a reflection of just how few professionals were working in the field at the time.
The provisional constitution (also referred to as the 'Rules'), dated 24 August 1986, required ratification by appending the signatures of 15 properly accredited members in order for NZSTI to become a full professional body. However, with no agreed-upon examination system in place, this was not immediately possible. The Society was formally incorporated on 24 October 1986, with the condition that all members would remain provisional until 15 had met the criteria set by the Society to be properly admitted as members – at which point NZSTI would be deemed a fully professional organisation.
Early development
Patrick Delhaye met with Dr René Haeseryn of FIT (International Federation of Translators) and Ms Florence Herbulot of ESIT (École Supérieure d'Interprètes et de Traducteurs) in France to find out how NZSTI could become a member of FIT. This was crucial as FIT only allows one member assoication per country. At his urging, NZSTI joined FIT in 1987.
NZSTI's first national conference was held in 1988. With members based in both Wellington and Auckland, NZSTI chose to hold its early conferences at venues roughly halfway between the two cities. These included New Plymouth (April 1988), Rotorua (June 1989), and Havelock North (June 1990). The June conferences typically ran from Saturday afternoon to midday Monday over the Queen’s Birthday long weekend. This format became the norm for several years, until members expressed a preference for leaving long weekends free and instead meeting from Friday evening to Sunday afternoon.
At the 1988 conference, a proposal was made to accept the NAATI Level 3 certification (now known as Certified Translator or Certified Interpreter) as the official entry standard for full membership. Other key topics of discussion included a draft code of ethics and the establishment of translation and interpreting examination systems. At the time, NZSTI had just 30 provisional members.
When Dr Sabine Fenton arrived in New Zealand in 1987, NZSTI was a fledgling organisation that was divided on membership standards and uncertain of its future direction. Dr Fenton would go on to play a pivotal role in the development of both NZSTI and the wider profession in New Zealand.
The contentious question of which qualifications should determine entry into NZSTI was resolved at the 1990 conference, after considerable debate. It was agreed that the Australian NAATI Level 3 certification would serve as the minimum qualification for membership, but that there was still an urgent need for training in skills, professional conduct and ethics. To address this, Dr Fenton set up one-year courses in several centres around the country, the most urgent need of the era being for trained interpreters for community interpreting particularly in the health and legal fields with the highest demand being for Samoan and Tongan interpreters.
The 1990 conference also revived a recurring discussion on the nature of the Society: should NZSTI be a professional body with accreditation and governance responsibilities, or function more as a social association or ‘club’? This question would continue to surface in the years that followed. However, with an official entry standard now in place, the NZSTI Constitution was finally ratified on 12 February 1992.
The Society’s first newsletter, Word for Word, was produced by Auckland members and published in mid-1991. By then, NZSTI had grown to 61 provisional members and associates.
Following a period of relative inactivity, NZSTI was struck off the register of incorporated societies on 20 October 1993. Dr Sabine Fenton led the efforts to reincorporate the Society and re-establish its membership of FIT. NZSTI was officially reregistered on 18 August 1994 (with the required minimum 15 qualified members), with Dr Fenton elected as National President. This marked the beginning of a strong period of renewal and growth for the Society.
Growth, change and development
This was a pivotal period for the industry. Within just a few years, NZSTI became firmly established, alongside The New Zealand Translation Centre Ltd, Pacific International Translations Ltd, and several smaller translation agencies. At the same time, community interpreting services also began to take shape, including the Wellington Community Interpreting Service (later Interpreting NZ), and dedicated services at Middlemore Hospital and the Manukau Court – reflecting a growing recognition of the importance of interpreting for non-English-speaking migrants.
With the industry evolving, NZSTI added an Associate category for applicants who did not hold the required qualifications for ordinary membership, and in 1996 Affiliate membership for those with recognised certificates of T/I education and training. Meanwhile NAATI was also evolving, introducing a paraprofessional level and placing greater emphasis on professional ethics.
In 1997, NZSTI was honoured to receive its Māori name, gifted by the inaugural Māori Language Commissioner, Dr Timoti Kāretu:
Te Rōpū Kaiwhakamāori ā-waha, ā-tuhi o Aotearoa
The achievements of NZSTI’s founders and early members were both numerous and significant, and the Society’s steady development has continued ever since. They established regular branch meetings, launched the Word for Word newsletter, introduced a directory of practising members, forged relationships with organisations such as SLIANZ and AUSIT, organised annual conferences, and signed memoranda of understanding with various government agencies and institutions.
Many NZSTI Council members served the Society over extended periods, adapting to changes in the industry as well as evolving government requirements for incorporated societies. Some were elected as Office Holders, while many others contributed through service on the Council or regional branch committees. Their efforts included supporting improvements to training and qualifications, and advocating for greater recognition of the translation and interpreting professions – particularly the vital role of qualified professionals in the healthcare, legal, education, immigration, and business sectors.
Over the years, key NZSTI members have been honoured for their contributions to the Society and the wider profession. Several have been recognised as NZSTI Fellows for their exceptional service, some of whom have also received national honours: Dr Sabine Fenton (2012) and Isabelle Poff-Pencole (2018) both received the New Zealand Order of Merit (MNZM) for their outstanding contributions.
From its early years, NZSTI has maintained an active relationship with the International Federation of Translators (FIT). NZSTI Fellow and past President Henry Liu served on the FIT Council from 2008 and became the first New Zealander elected President of FIT (2014–2017), continuing afterward as an Honorary Advisor. His leadership marked a significant milestone for New Zealand’s presence on the global stage. As of 2025, the current FIT President is NZSTI member Alison Rodriguez.
The 21st century: adapting to the times
By early 2006, NZSTI’s membership was fluctuating around 300, and the administrative workload had become too great for voluntary office holders to manage alone. That year, NZSTI engaged Wendy Dawson as a part-time administrator. Over more than 15 years, her role grew and evolved alongside the Society, helping it navigate significant changes in the translation and interpreting sector.
By her retirement in 2021 NZSTI’s membership had risen to around 700 and there had been two upgrades to the website in 2010 and 2020, the latter adding automated billing and event bookings. The time was right for the society to move its administration to a professional company, with subsequent engagement of operational management contractors.
The increasing shift to digital communication and online professional development opportunities was further accelerated by the 2020 COVID-19 pandemic. In 2021, NZSTI held its first online AGM and national conference. Since then, online professional development opportunities have continued to grow, becoming a dynamic and valuable benefit of NZSTI membership.
In response to the government’s requirement for interpreters to hold NAATI certification, NZSTI signed a significant contract in 2021 with the Ministry of Business, Innovation and Employment (MBIE) to support interpreters in preparing for the NAATI test. Supporting the professionalisation of the translator and interpreter workforce in Aotearoa New Zealand remains a core focus for NZSTI, and this contract represented an important opportunity to expand the Society’s capacity, enhance its relevance, support the wider industry, and attract new members.
In 2025, Te Tari Mātāwaka – the Ministry for Ethnic Communities (MEC) – assumed the role of lead agency and signed a new contract with NZSTI to continue this important work in supporting interpreters across the country.
In 2024, the Auckland branch spearheaded NZSTI’s first-ever national rates survey. Between July and September, 362 translators and interpreters participated, with the survey report released in February 2025. The report offers invaluable insights into rates, practices and working conditions across the profession, and NZSTI aims to repeat the survey at regular intervals.
2025: a milestone year
A significant project was launched in 2025 to overhaul NZSTI's constitution and ensure compliance with the new Incorporated Societies Act 2022, enabling NZSTI to continue to exist as an incorporated society. Key changes included introducing an Educational Affiliate option for tertiary institutions in Aotearoa New Zealand, updating the Full Member and Affiliate category names to Accredited Practitioner and Practitioner, and introducing the new Provisional Practitioner category. An ambitious schedule of member consultation sessions and surveys was run from July to September, with many members engaging in the process and providing essential feedback. The new constitution was passed at the October SGM and NZSTI officially reregistered under the new Act on 29 October 2025.
A promising future
From those early national meetings of just 25 people, NZSTI has grown into a thriving organisation with over 700 members. Today, it offers a website rich with information and resources, a strong reputation for high-quality annual conferences, frequent professional development events, a regular e-newsletter, a publicly accessible online directory of practising members, an industry rates survey, and well-established relationships with government departments, SLIANZ, AUSIT, NAATI, the Māori Language Commission, and many other organisations.
NZSTI remains committed to its mission as an independent professional association—representing the interests of its members, supporting independent practitioners through education and community, upholding professional standards, and serving as a mark of excellence in Aotearoa New Zealand.
References and sources:
- Fenton, Dr Sabine: Word for Word December 2010 article And that’s how it all began, on the evolution of the translation/interpreting sector in NZ as well as the resurgence of NZSTI.
- King, Patrick: Word for Word August 2002: article Old enough to have a history, on the early days of NZSTI; Word for Word: multiple articles of interest from August 1994 to December 2016; Word for Word Blog 2023
- NZSTI National Council: Minutes of Council meetings and of Annual General Meetings
- NZSTI Conference Proceedings
- NZSTI’s founding documents: Founding Constitution, Signatories to the incoporation of the society
- Personal recollections, records and assistance: with thanks to foundation members Patrick King, Sibylle Ferner, Patrick Delhaye and Dr Sabine Fenton, and former administrator Wendy Dawson.