Industry Insights from a NAATI-Certified Interpreter in New Zealand
Carolina Cannard – NAATI-Certified French and Greek interpreter
“We interpreters are the voices of those who cannot speak”
Carolina Cannard is a NAATI-Certified French and Greek interpreter based in New Zealand. She is also a PhD researcher exploring the experiences of refugee women with interpreters in New Zealand. Carolina specialises in simultaneous conference interpreting and co-founded SiNZ. Her passion for interpreting and her understanding of the interpreter’s complex role incited her to advocate for fair pay and better working conditions by creating a petition and collecting testimonies from fellow interpreters, which she later submitted to the New Zealand Government.
PhD research and volunteering
Conducting research on interpreting at a PhD level was an undeniably tough and testing experience. The NZ Red Cross gave me the opportunity to assist the NGO as a volunteer to help refugee families settle in their communities. Volunteering, along with the interviews I collected from refugee women who participated in my research project, were life changing – they gave me an in-depth understanding of how much our work means to our most vulnerable clients. We interpreters are the voices of those who cannot speak. We must recognise and honour the importance of our professional role and the impact that we can have in people’s lives. I feel very proud and privileged to be working as an interpreter.
Simultaneous interpreting and SiNZ
Being in the booth is a thrill and the challenging nature of simultaneous interpreting is something that I really enjoy. With colleagues Isabelle Wannenburg and Agustina Marianacci, we decided to create SiNZ (Simultaneous Interpreters New Zealand) to offer a platform for New Zealand-based interpreters who specialise in simultaneous and conference interpreting. Our aim is to promote the recognition of this specific interpreting mode in New Zealand, foster collegiality and communication among members, and to advocate on behalf of the profession. Day by day, we dedicate our time as volunteers to help SiNZ grow.
We must speak up for our industry
One of the greatest joys of working as an interpreter is to meet other inspiring colleagues who end up becoming dear friends along the way. Our continuous discussions revealed how most of us were disheartened by the generally unsustainable low industry rates and the unethical practises that some agencies perpetuate by hiring unqualified interpreters, thus putting vulnerable clients and high-stake services at risk. I decided to speak up about these issues and seek support from NZSTI and fellow practitioners. With the help of NZSTI and dedicated colleagues, I was able to send a petition signed by 1,600 people and over 40 interpreter testimonies to the New Zealand government to raise our concerns collectively. I want to encourage all T&I colleagues to unite and speak up openly about industry issues to push for change and better working conditions for all. Together, we are stronger.
