Simultaneous Interpretation (Maori to English) to begin in New Zealand's Parliament

[Tracy Jacobs]

Kia ora

Simultaneous interpretation (Maori to English) is due to commence in New Zealand's Parliament this week. I thought the list might be interested in this article from December last year, which gives some background:

15 December 2009, 4:36PM

Simultaneous interpretation of Parliament into Maori
By Pita Sharples
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Maori Party Co-leader Dr Pita Sharples today asked the Speaker for details about how Parliamentary proceedings would be translated into Maori in real time, starting next year.

In a point of order at the start of today's sitting, Dr Sharples noted the announcement by the Clerk of the House, that simultaneous translation will be introduced when the House resumes sitting in 2010.

"The Maori Party is pleased to hear this advice, as we believe that it will increase the understanding of Maori, add to the profile of te reo, improve pronunciation and establish the status of te reo as an official language of this land," said Dr Sharples.

Full article at: http://www.infonews.co.nz/news.cfm?l=1&t=115&id=46034

People accessing the webstreamed or televised debates will be able to choose between either an English +  Maori audio channel (this will be the default) or English only audio channel. The radio broadcast will continue to be broadcast direct from the floor of the House (this is the English + Maori audio).

E noho ora mai

Tracy Jacobs