Interpreting

Interpreting services in New Zealand

Updated 4 November 2026

Approximately, according to sellers' published rates for November 2026, telephone interpreting in New Zealand starts from NZ$40 per 15 minutes, with a minimum charge of NZ$120. Onsite work is quoted per job, so the quickest way to a current price for your date is a request on BlaBlaPrice.

• The mode: onsite, telephone or video. Telephone work is priced per 15 minutes, onsite work per job.
• The language pair.
• The subject and setting. Public sector work has its own standards (see below).
• The date, the expected length and the number of people present.

Standards for public sector and sign language work

Interpreters who work with government agencies must meet new standards and accreditation requirements from 1 July, and a free but mandatory course, Interpreting in Aotearoa New Zealand: The Public Sector Context, has been made available to them. Ask whether your interpreter holds NAATI certification or NZSTI membership. For New Zealand Sign Language, the government agency hosting the meeting or event is usually responsible for paying the NZSL interpreters.

Season and timing

New Zealand's seasons run the other way round from the northern hemisphere: summer is December to February and winter is June to August. Interpreting is booked for a set appointment rather than by weather, so the season changes the price very little. What matters more is giving the exact date, start time and expected length as early as you can.

How it is bought and paid for here

Telephone rates are stated subject to GST, and onsite visits are quoted per job. Who pays depends on who books: when an agency makes the booking, interpreting is generally free for the non-English speaker. Interpreters can work face to face, by telephone or by video, so decide which one you need before you compare offers. Onsite work can be booked in Auckland, Wellington, Christchurch, Hamilton and Tauranga, so say which city you need.

What to write in your request

Say the language pair, the type of interpreting (onsite, telephone or video), the date and start time, the expected length, the subject, and how many people will be present. Add the city, any equipment such as a video link or a room, and your budget, so sellers can offer what fits.

BlaBlaPrice is free for buyers. Describe what you need in your own words in the chat, and add a photo if it helps. The AI asks for anything missing, looks through interpreting services and price lists in New Zealand, and shows the prices and businesses it found. Sellers registered on BlaBlaPrice reply in the chat with their own offer, while your contact details stay hidden until you choose whom to contact. You can also send your request link to a local interpreter yourself. Start with a request or read how BlaBlaPrice works.