NAATI credential compliance and subcontracting practices in DIA translation and interpreting services
P. Peach made this Official Information request to Department of Internal Affairs
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From: P. Peach
Tēnā koutou,
I am requesting the following information under the Official Information Act 1982 relating to subcontracting practices, NAATI credential compliance, and interpreter pay arrangements within translation and interpreting services procured by or through the Department of Internal Affairs (DIA).
SECTION A: SUBCONTRACTING ARRANGEMENTS
1. Whether DIA's Translation Service or any external translation or interpreting providers contracted to DIA are permitted to subcontract assignments to third parties, including overseas-based agencies or individual contractors located outside New Zealand.
2. Any conditions or restrictions in DIA's contracts with translation or interpreting providers regarding the use of subcontractors, including any requirements that subcontractors be based in New Zealand or hold an appropriate New Zealand work visa.
3. Whether DIA requires providers to disclose the identity, location, or credentials of individual translators or interpreters — including subcontractors — who carry out assignments on DIA's behalf.
4. Whether DIA has any knowledge of, or has sought information about, assignments being routed to interpreters or translators located outside New Zealand.
5. Any instances where DIA became aware that an assignment was conducted by a person located outside New Zealand or by an uncredentialled subcontractor, and any action taken as a result.
SECTION B: NAATI CREDENTIAL COMPLIANCE
6. What mechanism, if any, DIA uses to verify that individual translators and interpreters carrying out assignments on its behalf — including those engaged through subcontracting arrangements — hold a valid NAATI credential or Working Towards NAATI (WTN) status.
7. Whether DIA requires its translation or interpreting providers to maintain and supply a current register of credentialled practitioners working under DIA contracts, and if so whether DIA has received and reviewed such registers.
8. Any audits, spot checks, or compliance reviews conducted by DIA on its translation or interpreting providers since 1 July 2024 to verify NAATI credential compliance, including the methodology and findings of any such reviews.
9. Any instances since 1 July 2024 where a provider was found to have used a translator or interpreter who did not hold the required NAATI credential or Working Towards NAATI (WTN) status, and any consequences or remedial action taken.
10. Any complaints received by DIA since 1 July 2024 from staff, clients, or members of the public regarding the qualifications or conduct of a translator or interpreter engaged through DIA's services.
SECTION C: INTERPRETER AND TRANSLATOR PAY VISIBILITY
11. Whether DIA has any information about the rates or fees paid by its external providers to individual translators or interpreters for assignments conducted on DIA's behalf.
12. Whether DIA has ever sought, as part of contract negotiations, tendering processes, or performance reviews, any information about the pay or working conditions of translators or interpreters engaged through its provider contracts.
13. Any internal policies, briefings, risk assessments, or correspondence within DIA regarding the fair remuneration or employment conditions of translators and interpreters working under its contracts, including any concerns raised about the margin between rates paid to providers and rates passed on to practitioners.
14. Whether DIA's tendering or procurement criteria for translation and interpreting services include any consideration of whether providers pay practitioners at or above a minimum rate, living wage, or industry standard.
If any part of this request is refused, please:
- Identify the specific OIA provision relied upon for each withholding;
- Consider whether the public interest in transparency around publicly funded services and the fair treatment of workers outweighs any commercial sensitivity; and
- Release any information that can be made available in redacted or aggregated form.
I am happy to receive this information in electronic format.
Ngā mihi
From: RIS Official Correspondence
Department of Internal Affairs
Kia ora P Peach,
Thank you for your OIA request to the Department of Internal Affairs.
We apologise for the late acknowledgement of your request, the Department
will provide its response to your request as soon as practicable and
within twenty working days. The 20th working day is 29 April 2026.
Please note that in cases where the Department’s response provides
information that is identified to be of general public interest, the
response may also be published on the Department of Internal Affairs
website. If the Department publishes its response to your OIA request,
all personal information, including your name and contact details, will be
removed.
Ngâ mihi
Michael Mahoney | Advisor| Kaitohutohu
Official Correspondence | Reta Ôkawa
Regulatory and Identity Services | Taituarâ
The Department of Internal Affairs | Te Tari Taiwhenua
[1]dia.govt.nz | [2]Facebook | [3]LinkedIn
[4]Logo: Internal Affairs — Te Tari Taiwhenua
-----Original Message-----
From: P. Peach <[5][FOI #34263 email]>
Sent: Friday, 27 March 2026 11:00 am
To: OIA <[6][DIA request email]>
Subject: Official Information request - NAATI credential compliance and
subcontracting practices in DIA translation and interpreting services
[You don't often get email from
[7][FOI #34263 email]. Learn why this is
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Tçnâ koutou,
I am requesting the following information under the Official Information
Act 1982 relating to subcontracting practices, NAATI credential
compliance, and interpreter pay arrangements within translation and
interpreting services procured by or through the Department of Internal
Affairs (DIA).
SECTION A: SUBCONTRACTING ARRANGEMENTS
1. Whether DIA's Translation Service or any external translation or
interpreting providers contracted to DIA are permitted to subcontract
assignments to third parties, including overseas-based agencies or
individual contractors located outside New Zealand.
2. Any conditions or restrictions in DIA's contracts with translation or
interpreting providers regarding the use of subcontractors, including any
requirements that subcontractors be based in New Zealand or hold an
appropriate New Zealand work visa.
3. Whether DIA requires providers to disclose the identity, location, or
credentials of individual translators or interpreters — including
subcontractors — who carry out assignments on DIA's behalf.
4. Whether DIA has any knowledge of, or has sought information about,
assignments being routed to interpreters or translators located outside
New Zealand.
5. Any instances where DIA became aware that an assignment was conducted
by a person located outside New Zealand or by an uncredentialled
subcontractor, and any action taken as a result.
SECTION B: NAATI CREDENTIAL COMPLIANCE
6. What mechanism, if any, DIA uses to verify that individual translators
and interpreters carrying out assignments on its behalf — including those
engaged through subcontracting arrangements — hold a valid NAATI
credential or Working Towards NAATI (WTN) status.
7. Whether DIA requires its translation or interpreting providers to
maintain and supply a current register of credentialled practitioners
working under DIA contracts, and if so whether DIA has received and
reviewed such registers.
8. Any audits, spot checks, or compliance reviews conducted by DIA on its
translation or interpreting providers since 1 July 2024 to verify NAATI
credential compliance, including the methodology and findings of any such
reviews.
9. Any instances since 1 July 2024 where a provider was found to have used
a translator or interpreter who did not hold the required NAATI credential
or Working Towards NAATI (WTN) status, and any consequences or remedial
action taken.
10. Any complaints received by DIA since 1 July 2024 from staff, clients,
or members of the public regarding the qualifications or conduct of a
translator or interpreter engaged through DIA's services.
SECTION C: INTERPRETER AND TRANSLATOR PAY VISIBILITY
11. Whether DIA has any information about the rates or fees paid by its
external providers to individual translators or interpreters for
assignments conducted on DIA's behalf.
12. Whether DIA has ever sought, as part of contract negotiations,
tendering processes, or performance reviews, any information about the pay
or working conditions of translators or interpreters engaged through its
provider contracts.
13. Any internal policies, briefings, risk assessments, or correspondence
within DIA regarding the fair remuneration or employment conditions of
translators and interpreters working under its contracts, including any
concerns raised about the margin between rates paid to providers and rates
passed on to practitioners.
14. Whether DIA's tendering or procurement criteria for translation and
interpreting services include any consideration of whether providers pay
practitioners at or above a minimum rate, living wage, or industry
standard.
If any part of this request is refused, please:
- Identify the specific OIA provision relied upon for each withholding;
- Consider whether the public interest in transparency around publicly
funded services and the fair treatment of workers outweighs any commercial
sensitivity; and
- Release any information that can be made available in redacted or
aggregated form.
I am happy to receive this information in electronic format.
Ngâ mihi
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From: RIS Official Correspondence
Department of Internal Affairs
Kia ora P.Peach
Please find attached the response to your Official Information Act Request
Ngâ mihi
Michael Mahoney | Advisor| Kaitohutohu
Official Correspondence | Reta Ôkawa
Regulatory and Identity Services | Taituarâ
The Department of Internal Affairs | Te Tari Taiwhenua
[1]dia.govt.nz | [2]Facebook | [3]LinkedIn
[4]Logo: Internal Affairs — Te Tari Taiwhenua
References
Visible links
1. https://www.dia.govt.nz/
2. https://www.facebook.com/dia.govt.nz
3. https://nz.linkedin.com/company/departme...
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