Back from Christchurch: What the 2026 NZSTI Conference Meant for Harry Clark Translation NZ

Our CEO, Hadi Abughazala, has returned from the 2026 NZSTI Conference in Ōtautahi Christchurch, held 11–13 September at Te Whare Wānanga o Waitaha, the University of Canterbury — attending after being invited by the Department of Internal Affairs (DIA), reflecting his ongoing work as one of the department’s trusted Arabic–English translators. This year’s theme, Language and (E)motion: Interaffectivity and Embodiment in T&I Practice, brought together translators and interpreters from across Aotearoa and beyond for three days of discussion and connection.

One statistic raised during the conference landed especially close to home for a New Zealand audience: the Pacific Islands are home to over 1,500 distinct Indigenous languages — roughly a quarter of all languages spoken worldwide. For a country as closely connected to the Pacific as Aotearoa, that’s not a distant statistic. It’s a reminder of the scale of language diversity sitting right on our doorstep, and the responsibility that comes with it for government departments and language service providers alike.

Sessions Hadi attended included:

• Fesaitu Solomone — Decolonising Pacific Language Practice in an AI-Shaped Future — a direct look at what’s at stake for Pacific communities if AI-driven translation tools are built without their input, and what community-led language technology could look like instead.
• Despina Amanatidou — Meaning in (E)motion: Human Judgement in AI-Supported Practice — exploring where human judgement remains essential in translation and interpreting, even as AI tools become more common in day-to-day practice.
• Michael Nemarich — NAATI Recertification: Tips, Tricks, and Updates to Renewing Your Credentials — practical guidance on staying current with NAATI credentials, directly relevant given Harry Clark NZ holds both NAATI and NZSTI certifications.

“Fesaitu’s session on Pacific languages was the one that stuck with me most. New Zealand sits right in the middle of a region that holds a quarter of the world’s languages. Government departments here have a real responsibility to get Pacific language services right — not just for compliance, but because these are living languages and living communities. That’s not something AI alone can be trusted to handle without people like us in the loop.”

Hadi Abughazala, CEO, Harry Clark Translation NZ

Why Government and Industry Connection Matters

A recurring thread throughout the conference was how much translators and interpreters working with government agencies benefit from staying connected to the wider profession — not just to each other, but to the departments and communities they serve.

“Despina’s session on human judgement and Michael’s session on NAATI recertification felt like two sides of the same coin. One was about why our judgement still matters even as AI tools improve. The other was about making sure we stay properly credentialed to exercise that judgement in the first place. Translating for government departments means there’s no room to get either of those wrong — and events like this are where you make sure you haven’t fallen behind on either front.”

Hadi Abughazala, CEO, Harry Clark Translation NZ

At Harry Clark Translation NZ, holding both NAATI and NZSTI certifications means we sit across both professional standards that matter most in this part of the world. Being present at events like this reinforces something we believe strongly: the more connected our industry is — practitioners, agencies, and government departments alike — the better the outcomes for everyone who depends on accurate, culturally sound translation.

• Practitioners get to learn directly from peers facing the same real-world pressures
• Government departments benefit from closer relationships with the translators they rely on
• Newer interpreters and translators get exposure to experienced voices in the field
• The profession as a whole earns greater recognition for the precision and responsibility the work demands

Looking Ahead

Fesaitu’s session in particular has us thinking about how Harry Clark NZ can better support Pacific language communities specifically, given how central they are to New Zealand’s own government and community translation needs. It’s a conversation we’re planning to continue internally in the months ahead, including how we approach recertification and ongoing training across the team following Michael’s session.

It’s worth sitting with a few questions coming out of this year’s conference: How much stronger could government-community language services be if this kind of connection happened more than once a year? With a quarter of the world’s languages spoken across the Pacific, are New Zealand government departments and language companies doing enough to protect that diversity as AI becomes part of more workflows? And how do we keep the human judgement at the centre of government translation work as those tools become more common?

Thank you to NZSTI for hosting, and to the DIA team for the opportunity to attend this year.

Read more about the 2026 NZSTI Conference, or learn about our certified translation services in New Zealand.