Attendee Information

Welcome to the 2025 NZSTI Conference, here’s some key information you'll need to know for the weekend.

This year’s conference brings together over 30 speakers from Aotearoa and around the world, sharing their insights on the past, present, and future of translation and interpreting. From exploring AI and innovation to strengthening community connections and revitalising indigenous languages, the programme is packed with sessions to inform and inspire.

View the full programme online here

Download the PDF programme here

Professor Rawinia Higgins - Saturday 9.00 am

Professor Rawinia Higgins (Tūhoe) is Deputy Vice-Chancellor Māori at Te Herenga Waka—Victoria University of Wellington. She chairs Te Taura Whiri i te Reo Māori (The Māori Language Commission) as its first woman Commissioner and serves on the Reserve Bank Board. A leading voice in Māori language revitalisation, she played a key role in shaping today’s language policy. In 2025, she was awarded an MNZM for her services to te reo Māori, education, and governance.

Professor Ali Knott - Sunday 9.00 am

Ali Knott is Professor of Artificial Intelligence at Victoria University of Wellington with 30 years’ experience in AI and computational linguistics. His current work focuses on AI governance and regulation, particularly around social media, jobs, and government use. He co-leads the Global Partnership on AI’s project on Social Media Governance and has contributed to initiatives such as the Christchurch Call and the Forum for Information and Democracy.

Saturday closing panel session - Saturday 4.00pm

We’re ending Saturday with a powerful closing panel: By the Numbers, In Our Words: The Realities of Translating and Interpreting in Aotearoa. This session brings together data and lived experience, sharing findings from NZSTI’s first national survey on pay and conditions alongside a member-led project on interpreter experiences. Together, they reveal how new standards, certification requirements, and economic pressures are reshaping our profession. Expect robust discussion, practitioner stories, and the chance to tackle the “hairiest” questions about pay, invoicing, and working life.

Panel sessions include:

The State of Translation & Interpreting in Aotearoa New Zealand – Dr Hannah Burdekin, Agustina Marianacci
Insights from the National Survey of Translator & Interpreter Rates & Working Conditions – Dr Thanos Kyritsis, Dr Hannah Burdekin
Voices from the Field: Working Conditions of Translators & Interpreters – Dr Carolina Cannard, Dr Thanos Kyritsis

Conference book swap

Bring a book, take a book and share stories and pick up something new to enjoy. We will have some copies of our Treaty Times Thirty to share and a few others. Please feel free to bring books of your own to share! You’ll find the book swap spot near the NZSTI table.

Professional headshots

Get a polished headshot taken during morning tea and lunch by Wellington photographer Sarah Booher as a bonus included with your ticket!

Download the conference app ahead of time

This year, we’re excited to introduce a conference app to improve the experience and make it as easy as possible to access all event information. Through the app, attendees and speakers will be able to:

View the full agenda and create a personalised schedule
Access detailed speaker and session information
Explore sponsor profiles and offers
Participate in live Q&As during sessions

Scan the QR code to download the app.
Then scan it again to open the NZSTI conference app

Alternatively you can access the app here: https://events.conf.app/event/7f03f6f2-4a9b-424f-8df1-58171a603145

Arriving early the day before the conference weekend kicks off? Make the most of it with these two opportunities:

Free Friday evening opening lecture

If you’re arriving in Wellington on Friday, join us for the Jean Anderson Annual Lecture in Literary Translation, hosted by the Victoria University School of Languages and Cultures, the New Zealand Centre for Literary Translation and Wai-te-ata Press, in partnership with the Embassies of Italy and Ireland, and NZSTI. This free public event is open to all. This year’s lecture features Professor Enrico Terrinoni, one of Italy’s foremost literary translators and a renowned scholar of Irish literature. Best known for his acclaimed translations of James Joyce, Terrinoni will offer a compelling exploration of how translation shapes meaning, identity, and resistance.

See more details here

CPI Workshop (Free for entitlement note holders!

Start your conference weekend early with a NAATI Certified Provisional Interpreter (CPI) Test Preparation Workshop, running 8.30 am – 5.00 pm at Toi Pōneke Arts Centre. This full-day, in-person workshop covers test format, marking, and practice role-plays with feedback. Eligible attendees with a valid entitlement note can join free of charge (bring your own lunch/snacks).