Chinese Association president Meng Foon says it is time New Zealand’s language interpreting services are reviewed.

[…] Mr Foon, who is Gisborne’s mayor as well as the president of the Chinese Association, said interpreting services needed to be efficient.

“It is probably timely for a review to ensure that all the appropriate languages and dialects are actually catered for, from not only Chinese people, but from new immigrants that actually come from overseas that actually struggle with English language at the present time.”

Mr Foon said services should have the resources to help people in times of stress.

International Federation of Translators president Dr Henry Liu said interpreters should be available 24/7.

“This is something that we have failed in providing adequate services to all New Zealanders across different language groups,” he said.

“This need not be that way and we could remedy that with a more strategic approach.”

He warned that a slow language interpreting service could be the difference between life and death when it came to 111 calls. More.

See: Radio New Zealand News

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