NAATI credential compliance and subcontracting practices in Department of Corrections interpreting and translation services
P. Peach made this Official Information request to Department of Corrections
This request has an unknown status. We're waiting for P. Peach to read recent responses and update the status.
From: P. Peach
Tēnā koutou,
I am requesting the following information under the Official Information Act 1982 relating to subcontracting practices and NAATI credential compliance within interpreting and translation services procured by the Department of Corrections (Ara Poutama Aotearoa).
SECTION A: SUBCONTRACTING ARRANGEMENTS
1. Whether Corrections' interpreting and translation providers 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 Corrections' contracts with interpreting and translation 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 Corrections requires providers to disclose the identity, location, or credentials of individual interpreters or translators — including subcontractors — who carry out assignments on Corrections' behalf.
4. Whether Corrections has any knowledge of, or has sought information about, assignments being routed to interpreters or translators located outside New Zealand.
5. Any instances where Corrections 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, Corrections uses to verify that individual interpreters and translators 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 Corrections requires its interpreting and translation providers to maintain and supply a current register of credentialled practitioners working under Corrections contracts, and if so whether Corrections has received and reviewed such registers.
8. Any audits, spot checks, or compliance reviews conducted by Corrections on its interpreting and translation 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 an interpreter or translator 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 Corrections since 1 July 2024 from staff, prisoners, or members of the public regarding the qualifications or conduct of an interpreter or translator engaged through Corrections' services.
SECTION C: INTERPRETER AND TRANSLATOR PAY VISIBILITY
11. Whether Corrections has any information about the rates or fees paid by its providers to individual interpreters or translators for assignments conducted on Corrections' behalf.
12. Whether Corrections has ever sought, as part of contract negotiations, tendering processes, or performance reviews, any information about the pay or working conditions of interpreters or translators engaged through its provider contracts.
13. Any internal policies, briefings, risk assessments, or correspondence within Corrections regarding the fair remuneration or employment conditions of interpreters and translators working under its contracts, including any concerns raised about the margin between rates paid to providers and rates passed on to practitioners.
14. Whether Corrections' tendering or procurement criteria for interpreting and translation 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: Info@Corrections
Department of Corrections
Kia ora,
Thank you for getting in touch with the Government Services - Official
Correspondence team.
The [1][Department of Corrections request email] inbox is monitored from 8.00am to 4.00pm
Monday to Friday excluding public holidays & weekends.
If your request is urgent and relates to the wellbeing or safety of
someone in prison, please contact the prison directly. Contact details for
all prisons can be found here:
[2]https://www.corrections.govt.nz/about_us...
If you are looking for the location of a person in prison or if you want
to know if someone is in prison, you can request this information using
the online form on our website:
[3]https://www.corrections.govt.nz/working_...
This is an automatic reply to confirm we have received your email and we
will contact you if any further information is required. Please do not
reply to this message.
Ngā mihi | Kind regards,
The Government Services - Official Correspondence Team
[4][Department of Corrections request email]
Department of Corrections, Ara Poutama Aotearoa
a: National Office, Mayfair House, 44-52 The Terrace, Wellington, 6011
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Department of Corrections. It is intended only for the person or entity to
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From: Info@Corrections
Department of Corrections
Kia ora P Peach
Thank you for your email.
We are in receipt of your email and have logged your request with a reference: C 212475.
If you are requesting information, we are required to comply with the Privacy Act 2020, the Official Information Act 1982 and the Victims’ Rights Act 2002.
Depending on the nature of your request you may not receive an official response for up to 20 working days.
We will respond to you in due course.
Ngâ mihi | Kind regards,
Government Services
Department of Corrections, Ara Poutama Aotearoa
a: National Office, Mayfair House, 44-52 The Terrace, Wellington 6011
-----Original Message-----
From: P. Peach <[FOI #34266 email]>
Sent: Friday, 27 March 2026 11:13 am
To: Info@Corrections <[Department of Corrections request email]>
Subject: [EXTERNAL] Official Information request - NAATI credential compliance and subcontracting practices in Department of Corrections interpreting and translation services
[You don't often get email from [FOI #34266 email]. Learn why this is important at https://aka.ms/LearnAboutSenderIdentific... ]
Tçnâ koutou,
I am requesting the following information under the Official Information Act 1982 relating to subcontracting practices and NAATI credential compliance within interpreting and translation services procured by the Department of Corrections (Ara Poutama Aotearoa).
SECTION A: SUBCONTRACTING ARRANGEMENTS
1. Whether Corrections' interpreting and translation providers 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 Corrections' contracts with interpreting and translation 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 Corrections requires providers to disclose the identity, location, or credentials of individual interpreters or translators — including subcontractors — who carry out assignments on Corrections' behalf.
4. Whether Corrections has any knowledge of, or has sought information about, assignments being routed to interpreters or translators located outside New Zealand.
5. Any instances where Corrections 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, Corrections uses to verify that individual interpreters and translators 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 Corrections requires its interpreting and translation providers to maintain and supply a current register of credentialled practitioners working under Corrections contracts, and if so whether Corrections has received and reviewed such registers.
8. Any audits, spot checks, or compliance reviews conducted by Corrections on its interpreting and translation 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 an interpreter or translator 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 Corrections since 1 July 2024 from staff, prisoners, or members of the public regarding the qualifications or conduct of an interpreter or translator engaged through Corrections' services.
SECTION C: INTERPRETER AND TRANSLATOR PAY VISIBILITY
11. Whether Corrections has any information about the rates or fees paid by its providers to individual interpreters or translators for assignments conducted on Corrections' behalf.
12. Whether Corrections has ever sought, as part of contract negotiations, tendering processes, or performance reviews, any information about the pay or working conditions of interpreters or translators engaged through its provider contracts.
13. Any internal policies, briefings, risk assessments, or correspondence within Corrections regarding the fair remuneration or employment conditions of interpreters and translators working under its contracts, including any concerns raised about the margin between rates paid to providers and rates passed on to practitioners.
14. Whether Corrections' tendering or procurement criteria for interpreting and translation 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
-------------------------------------------------------------------
This is an Official Information request made via the FYI website.
Please use this email address for all replies to this request:
[FOI #34266 email]
Is [Department of Corrections request email] the wrong address for Official Information requests to Department of Corrections? If so, please contact us using this form:
https://fyi.org.nz/change_request/new?bo...
Disclaimer: This message and any reply that you make will be published on the internet. Our privacy and copyright policies:
https://fyi.org.nz/help/officers
If you find this service useful as an Official Information officer, please ask your web manager to link to us from your organisation's OIA or LGOIMA page.
-------------------------------------------------------------------
External Comms.
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The information in this message is the property of the New Zealand Department of Corrections. It is intended only for the person or entity to which it is addressed and may contain privileged or in confidence material. Any review, storage, copying, editing, summarising, transmission, retransmission, dissemination or other use of, by any means, in whole or part, or taking any action in reliance upon, this information by persons or entities other than intended recipient are prohibited. If you received this in error, please contact the sender and delete the material from all computers.
hide quoted sections
From: Info@Corrections
Department of Corrections
Kia ora,
Please see attached extension regarding the below correspondence.
Ngâ mihi | Kind regards,
Government Services – Official Correspondence
Ara Poutama Aotearoa, Department of Corrections
Wâhi mahi: National Office, Mayfair House, 44-52 The Terrace, Wellington 6011
-----Original Message-----
From: P. Peach <[FOI #34266 email]>
Sent: Friday, 27 March 2026 11:13 AM
To: Info@Corrections <[Department of Corrections request email]>
Subject: [EXTERNAL] Official Information request - NAATI credential compliance and subcontracting practices in Department of Corrections interpreting and translation services
[You don't often get email from [FOI #34266 email]. Learn why this is important at https://aka.ms/LearnAboutSenderIdentific... ]
Tçnâ koutou,
I am requesting the following information under the Official Information Act 1982 relating to subcontracting practices and NAATI credential compliance within interpreting and translation services procured by the Department of Corrections (Ara Poutama Aotearoa).
SECTION A: SUBCONTRACTING ARRANGEMENTS
1. Whether Corrections' interpreting and translation providers 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 Corrections' contracts with interpreting and translation 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 Corrections requires providers to disclose the identity, location, or credentials of individual interpreters or translators — including subcontractors — who carry out assignments on Corrections' behalf.
4. Whether Corrections has any knowledge of, or has sought information about, assignments being routed to interpreters or translators located outside New Zealand.
5. Any instances where Corrections 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, Corrections uses to verify that individual interpreters and translators 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 Corrections requires its interpreting and translation providers to maintain and supply a current register of credentialled practitioners working under Corrections contracts, and if so whether Corrections has received and reviewed such registers.
8. Any audits, spot checks, or compliance reviews conducted by Corrections on its interpreting and translation 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 an interpreter or translator 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 Corrections since 1 July 2024 from staff, prisoners, or members of the public regarding the qualifications or conduct of an interpreter or translator engaged through Corrections' services.
SECTION C: INTERPRETER AND TRANSLATOR PAY VISIBILITY
11. Whether Corrections has any information about the rates or fees paid by its providers to individual interpreters or translators for assignments conducted on Corrections' behalf.
12. Whether Corrections has ever sought, as part of contract negotiations, tendering processes, or performance reviews, any information about the pay or working conditions of interpreters or translators engaged through its provider contracts.
13. Any internal policies, briefings, risk assessments, or correspondence within Corrections regarding the fair remuneration or employment conditions of interpreters and translators working under its contracts, including any concerns raised about the margin between rates paid to providers and rates passed on to practitioners.
14. Whether Corrections' tendering or procurement criteria for interpreting and translation 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
-------------------------------------------------------------------
This is an Official Information request made via the FYI website.
Please use this email address for all replies to this request:
[FOI #34266 email]
Is [Department of Corrections request email] the wrong address for Official Information requests to Department of Corrections? If so, please contact us using this form:
https://fyi.org.nz/change_request/new?bo...
Disclaimer: This message and any reply that you make will be published on the internet. Our privacy and copyright policies:
https://fyi.org.nz/help/officers
If you find this service useful as an Official Information officer, please ask your web manager to link to us from your organisation's OIA or LGOIMA page.
-------------------------------------------------------------------
External Comms.
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
The information in this message is the property of the New Zealand Department of Corrections. It is intended only for the person or entity to which it is addressed and may contain privileged or in confidence material. Any review, storage, copying, editing, summarising, transmission, retransmission, dissemination or other use of, by any means, in whole or part, or taking any action in reliance upon, this information by persons or entities other than intended recipient are prohibited. If you received this in error, please contact the sender and delete the material from all computers.
hide quoted sections
From: Info@Corrections
Department of Corrections
Kia ora,
Please see attached response to the below correspondence.
Ngâ mihi | Kind regards,
Government Services – Official Correspondence
Ara Poutama Aotearoa, Department of Corrections
Wâhi mahi: National Office, Mayfair House, 44-52 The Terrace, Wellington 6011
-----Original Message-----
From: P. Peach <[FOI #34266 email]>
Sent: Friday, 27 March 2026 11:13 AM
To: Info@Corrections <[Department of Corrections request email]>
Subject: [EXTERNAL] Official Information request - NAATI credential compliance and subcontracting practices in Department of Corrections interpreting and translation services
[You don't often get email from [FOI #34266 email]. Learn why this is important at https://aka.ms/LearnAboutSenderIdentific... ]
Tçnâ koutou,
I am requesting the following information under the Official Information Act 1982 relating to subcontracting practices and NAATI credential compliance within interpreting and translation services procured by the Department of Corrections (Ara Poutama Aotearoa).
SECTION A: SUBCONTRACTING ARRANGEMENTS
1. Whether Corrections' interpreting and translation providers 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 Corrections' contracts with interpreting and translation 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 Corrections requires providers to disclose the identity, location, or credentials of individual interpreters or translators — including subcontractors — who carry out assignments on Corrections' behalf.
4. Whether Corrections has any knowledge of, or has sought information about, assignments being routed to interpreters or translators located outside New Zealand.
5. Any instances where Corrections 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, Corrections uses to verify that individual interpreters and translators 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 Corrections requires its interpreting and translation providers to maintain and supply a current register of credentialled practitioners working under Corrections contracts, and if so whether Corrections has received and reviewed such registers.
8. Any audits, spot checks, or compliance reviews conducted by Corrections on its interpreting and translation 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 an interpreter or translator 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 Corrections since 1 July 2024 from staff, prisoners, or members of the public regarding the qualifications or conduct of an interpreter or translator engaged through Corrections' services.
SECTION C: INTERPRETER AND TRANSLATOR PAY VISIBILITY
11. Whether Corrections has any information about the rates or fees paid by its providers to individual interpreters or translators for assignments conducted on Corrections' behalf.
12. Whether Corrections has ever sought, as part of contract negotiations, tendering processes, or performance reviews, any information about the pay or working conditions of interpreters or translators engaged through its provider contracts.
13. Any internal policies, briefings, risk assessments, or correspondence within Corrections regarding the fair remuneration or employment conditions of interpreters and translators working under its contracts, including any concerns raised about the margin between rates paid to providers and rates passed on to practitioners.
14. Whether Corrections' tendering or procurement criteria for interpreting and translation 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
-------------------------------------------------------------------
This is an Official Information request made via the FYI website.
Please use this email address for all replies to this request:
[FOI #34266 email]
Is [Department of Corrections request email] the wrong address for Official Information requests to Department of Corrections? If so, please contact us using this form:
https://fyi.org.nz/change_request/new?bo...
Disclaimer: This message and any reply that you make will be published on the internet. Our privacy and copyright policies:
https://fyi.org.nz/help/officers
If you find this service useful as an Official Information officer, please ask your web manager to link to us from your organisation's OIA or LGOIMA page.
-------------------------------------------------------------------
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
The information in this message is the property of the New Zealand Department of Corrections. It is intended only for the person or entity to which it is addressed and may contain privileged or in confidence material. Any review, storage, copying, editing, summarising, transmission, retransmission, dissemination or other use of, by any means, in whole or part, or taking any action in reliance upon, this information by persons or entities other than intended recipient are prohibited. If you received this in error, please contact the sender and delete the material from all computers.
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