Eligibility for NZSTI membership

NZSTI has strict eligibility criteria for its three membership categories (full member, affiliate, observer). Membership may be obtained through recognised translation and interpreting courses in New Zealand or applicable NAATI certification. Overseas qualifications are assessed on an individual basis and accepted at the discretion of the NZSTI council. Work experience is also considered but strict criteria apply. 

Note that applicants must live and work in New Zealand or must have previously lived here and retain significant links to New Zealand. 

Full member status

NZSTI, at its discretion, grants full member status to those who have completed Level 7 qualifications in translation or interpreting at a New Zealand tertiary institution. Where applicable, the applicant is required to have passed the course with a minimum overall average grade of B and a minimum of A- in the practical components of translation or interpreting papers (this refers to any practical translation papers for a translation qualification or any practical interpreting papers for an interpreting qualification). 

For translation, the language direction granted is generally the direction in which the qualification was completed, which is usually from one’s foreign language into one’s native language.

Full membership status may be granted for some of the qualifications conferred by the following institutions:

• The University of Auckland
• Auckland University of Technology
• Victoria University of Wellington
• Canterbury University
• NAATI (National Accreditation Authority for Translators and Interpreters) Certified Translator, Certified Interpreter, Certified Specialist Health/Legal/Conference Interpreter
• Māori Language Commission Toi Reo Māori — Te whakamana kaiwhakamāori ā-tuhi, ā-waha
  

• substantial published translation work, with an ISBN, which acknowledges the name of the translator
• at least 5 years of full-time employment as a translator or interpreter within an organisation that provides supervision and professional development
• In exceptional cases, well documented evidence of at least 10 years of regular and extensive work as a self-employed translator or interpreter

•  NZSTI is formally affiliated with the Sign Language Interpreters Association of New Zealand (SLIANZ). Members of SLIANZ who join NZSTI are admitted as full members
  
   
  
  

Affiliate status

NZSTI, at its discretion, grants affiliate status for completed qualifications in translation or interpreting taught at NZ tertiary institutions with a minimum requirement of 30 points at Level 6.  Where applicable, the applicant is required to have passed with a minimum of A- in the practical components of translation or interpreting papers (this refers to any practical translation papers for a translation qualification or any practical interpreting papers for an interpreting qualification). 

For translation, the language direction granted is generally the direction in which the qualification was completed, which is usually from one’s foreign language into one’s native language.

Affiliate status may be granted for some of the qualifications conferred by the following institutions: 

• The University of Auckland
• Auckland University of Technology
• Victoria University of Wellington
• Canterbury University
• UNITEC
• Interpreting New Zealand
• NAATI (National Accreditation Authority for Translators and Interpreters) Certified Provisional Interpreter

Other equivalent qualifications and/or experience may be considered at the council’s discretion, for example:

• a three-year language degree with a significant, verified translation component equivalent to part-time translation studies 
• at least 3 years of full-time employment and/or experience as a translator or interpreter within an organisation that provides supervision and professional development
• In exceptional cases, well documented evidence of at least 7 years of regular and extensive work as a self-employed translator or interpreter
  

Observer status

Observers have an interest in the society and profession but do not meet the criteria for full member or affiliate status. This includes translation and interpreting students who can apply to upgrade to full member or affiliate status once they have completed their studies. This category is also suitable for T&I academics.

Observers are not considered to be qualified or active practitioners and therefore, under the society’s constitution, may not describe themselves as a 'translator' or 'interpreter'. For full details see section 10.7 of the NZSTI Constitution.

To request further information about the application process or for additional information about the society itself, please contact us on info@nzsti.org.

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