The Language Assistance Services Programme

Language assistance services include interpreting and translation services that ensure people with limited or no English language skills can access public services and information.

Improving language assistance services

The Ministry of Business, Innovation and Employment (MBIE) and the Department of Internal Affairs are working with other central government agencies to improve access to public services and information for clients with limited English through a cross-government programme of work called the Language Assistance Services Programme.

This multi-year programme will establish a new, comprehensive service-delivery model to provide higher quality, more consistent and better-coordinated language assistance services across New Zealand’s public sector.

The programme comprises three separate but interconnected projects to improve the language assistance services provided in New Zealand. We are introducing:

  • a cross-government policy and service guidelines on language assistance services
  • a new standards and certification framework for language practitioners working in the public sector, and
  • new procurement models to improve the efficiency and effectiveness of how we deliver language assistance services.

You can find out more about the programme on the MBIE website.

Language Assistance Services | MBIE