Henrique Sauer Rupp
Portuguese Interpreter
As part of our ISO 21998:2020 certification process at Interpreting New Zealand, three interpreters were randomly selected for audit. Henrique Sauer Rupp, one of our Portuguese interpreters based in Christchurch and with INZ since 2009, was one of them.
Henrique reflects on his experience and what the certification means for his practice and the wider profession.
"Life is a continuous learning process"
“I was slightly surprised, in a positive sense. Becoming familiar with ISO 21998 more recently, I see this certification as a strong validation of the quality work we have been doing over the years as INZ interpreters. It strengthens the recognition and credibility of our profession across all interpreting settings.”
For Henrique, healthcare interpreting is a field where continuous learning is essential.
“Life is a continuous learning process. In healthcare interpreting especially, medical knowledge evolves quickly. We need to keep learning, ideally every day, even in small ways. Reflecting, improving, and staying curious. Our work can have a direct impact on people’s health and lives.”
On building confidence in the profession, he highlights consistency and curiosity:
“Confidence comes with time and practice. Staying in regular contact with languages through reading, listening, and engaging with people helps build readiness for any assignment.”
Reflecting on the certification, Henrique shares:
“For me, ISO 21998 is both a validation of the quality of work I’ve been doing for 16 years and a motivation to keep improving my interpreting skills.”