Quality Standards
Interpreting New Zealand is proud to have achieved ISO 21998:2020 certification for healthcare interpreting services. This internationally recognised standard confirms our capability to deliver interpreting services to the highest professional and ethical standards. It reflects our commitment to quality, accountability, and continuous improvement across all our services.
Achieving this certification demonstrates that we have the systems, processes, and trained interpreters in place to provide safe, consistent, and culturally appropriate healthcare interpreting for our clients and the communities we serve.
Standard | Description | Scope | Certification |
|---|---|---|---|
ISO 21998:2020 | Interpreting services — Healthcare interpreting — Requirements and recommendations | All healthcare interpreting services |
What this means for healthcare providers
For healthcare providers, ISO 21998:2020 certification provides independent assurance that Interpreting New Zealand operates in line with internationally recognised best practice for healthcare interpreting services.
But more importantly, it means practical, real-world confidence for healthcare providers.
It means:
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Quality you can rely on, as our services are delivered within a certified framework that prioritises accuracy, safety and professional standards.
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Consistency across every interaction. From appointment booking to service delivery and follow-up, our processes are structured, documented and continuously reviewed.
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Reduced risk in patient communication as clear communication helps ensure patient understanding, informed consent, and equal access to healthcare.
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Our interpreters are trained not only in language proficiency, but in the cultural and healthcare-specific competencies required for safe and effective communication.
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Our services are accountable and transparent as ISO 21998 certification is not a one-off achievement; our certification requires ongoing evaluation and improvement.
For our customers, this means you are partnering with an organisation that treats communication as a critical component of patient safety and quality care — not simply a logistical service.
What this means for our staff
Achieving ISO 21998 certification strengthens the systems and culture that support our team every day.
It reinforces clarity, accountability and continuous improvement across every part of our organisation.
For our staff, this means:
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Provision of clear, consistent processes that remove ambiguity and support confident decision-making
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Defined quality benchmarks that guide bookings, communication and service delivery
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A culture of accountability and improvement where feedback leads to measurable change
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Pride in working within an internationally recognised framework
ISO 21998 isn’t just about documentation, it’s about making sure every team member knows how their work contributes to safe, ethical healthcare communication.
To learn what certification means to our staff, see the stories below:
What this means for our interpreters
ISO 21998 officially formalises that interpreter competence, ethics and professional conduct are at the centre of healthcare interpreting. For interpreters working with us, certification reaffirms the professionalism that they bring to every assignment.
It means interpeters can expect:
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Clear standards for the application of skills and knowledge that meet international best practice
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Supportive onboarding and ongoing training to grow professional capabilities
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Reliable ethical guidance, including impartiality, confidentiality, and accuracy
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Recognition for specialised expertise in healthcare interpreting
This certification celebrates the skill, judgment, and cultural awareness interpreters bring to every healthcare assignment and formally recognises the high standards our interpreters already uphold.
While standards define expectations, it is our interpreters who exemplify those standards every day. To learn how certification supports their work in real healthcare settings, read their stories below:
