1985 to 2026: An Interpreter’s Story — What’s Changed, What Hasn’t?

Megan Mansfield

In 1985, I began interpreting in a very different world. There was no formal supervision, limited structured training, and few conversations about interpreter wellbeing. If something went wrong, you carried it. If something stayed with you emotionally, you carried that too. Much of the learning happened in the field —through mistakes, courage, community, and resilience

Over the past four decades, our profession has transformed. We now have qualifications, codes of ethics, professional bodies, supervision frameworks, trauma-informed practice, and online interpreting platforms. We have language for burnout, vicarious trauma, and reflective practice. We speak openly about power, interpreter privilege and Deaf leadership.

So the question I bring to this session is: Are we doing different work — or the same work within a different system?

Drawing on 40 years of lived experience as a Sign Language Interpreter, this storytelling-based presentation traces the journey from 1985 to 2026. I will reflect on the early days of interpreting, the gradual professionalisation of our field and the emotional cost of working in isolation. 

This is not a historical lecture. It is a reflective exploration of identity, responsibility, and growth within our profession. While systems, expectations, and technologies have evolved dramatically, the core of interpreting — presence, ethical tension, relational accountability, and the privilege of standing between languages and communities — remains deeply familiar.

As we look toward the future, this session invites us to honour where we have come from while intentionally shaping what comes next.

Megan Mansfield has been serving the Deaf community in
Aotearoa for over 40 years. As a veteran of the industry, Megan has witnessed and contributed to significant milestones in the recognition and development of NZSL. Her long-standing presence offers a
unique perspective on the evolution of interpreting and the
ongoing journey toward a fuller inclusion for the Deaf
community in New Zealand. Megan is still actively working today, supervising and mentoring the next generation of interpreters.

Developing role shift skills in interpreting: Learning from Deaf signers

Susie  Ovens, George Major, Catherine Greenwood, Pascal Marceau & Rachel Coppage)

Role shift is a sophisticated and highly visual feature of NZSL that skilled Deaf signers and interpreters use creatively to convey meaning. Initial interpreter training introduces students to the foundational use of role shift in NZSL, both as a linguistic feature and as an interpreting strategy that supports dynamic equivalence (i.e. prioritising meaning over form). However, for many second-language NZSL users, developing confident and effective use of role shift can take years of practice.

In this presentation, we will share findings from our recent project on features of effective NZSL stories and presentations, based on recordings of 15 Deaf signers. Creative and skilful use of role shift was evident throughout our dataset. We explore what interpreters – whether new or experienced! – can learn about role shift from Deaf signers.

Using video excerpts, we illustrate different types of role shift, including the use of constructed action and constructed dialogue, as well as how signers move fluidly between different characters. We will highlight practical implications for interpreting practice, training, and professional development.

Rachel Coppage has dual roles in part time capacity as an art psychotherapist in private practice and lecturer at AUT teaching Deaf World courses. She refers to Deaf Studies theory on allyships, including Deaf-hearing partnerships, in her teaching resources. However, there is limited research on interpreting where Deaf people take lead in professional settings. She has employed external NZSL-English interpreters for her Deaf World classes in mixed cohorts of Deaf and non-deaf ākonga. She looks forward to sharing her experiences collaborating with Julia as a designated interpreter for many years.

George Major is Senior Lecturer and Programme Leader of the NZSL programmes at AUT. She coordinates practicum, teaches NZSL interpreting courses, and also teaches ethical decision-making to both spoken and signed language students. George has published research on interpreter role and rapport work, healthcare accessibility, and workplace communication. 

Repeat, Reflect, Refine: Using SRTs for NZSL Growth

Andrew Townshend

There are few sign language proficiency tools available in New Zealand or indeed internationally. Since 2006, Sentence Repetition Tests (SRTs) for first and second language users of sign language have been used by researchers as an efficient tool to measure language proficiency. Developing and piloting an SRT for NZSL L2 learners, the NZSL SignRepL2, has highlighted the value of a theoretically grounded approach that considers the opportunities and limitations for NZSL feedback and professional development. 

This workshop provides an overview of the NZSL SignRepL2 pilot, including how items were selected, the linguistic features targeted, and what SRT performance can reveal about underlying language skills. This session centres on how interpreters themselves can use sentence repetition tasks to monitor their NZSL proficiency, recognise errors, and sharpen awareness of structures that may affect interpretation quality.

Participants will have the opportunity to complete several NZSL SRT items and engage in guided peer feedback using a simple, transparent coding framework. We will explore issues of consistency, bias, and self-monitoring, and discuss how SRT-style exercises can be incorporated into ongoing professional growth, supervision, or PLD groups.

THREE INTERPRETER WHY

Rachel Coppage, Frances Bird, Mark Hodgson, and Jasmine Pegg

Presented by Deaf professional Rachel Coppage, along with designated interpreting team Frances Bird, Mark Hodgson, and Jasmine Pegg, the THREE INTERPRETER WHY presentation will focus on AUT’s Deaf World courses (formerly known as DCC).

Following the highest number of Deaf student enrolments in the history of these Deaf world courses, we will explore the three-interpreter model used instead of the traditional two-person interpreting model. Specifically, we will examine the innovation, creativity, reflective, and reflexive practice of all four parties. Content may include items, such as; real recordings of interpreting in action, benefits of this model, and the experience of the Deaf professional, while also providing a reflective overview on the experience, advocating for this new interpreting model.

This presentation will acknowledge the whakapapa of these papers as a rite of passage for the interpreting profession, and the hard work by lecturers and past interpreters who established the foundations this model could be built upon.

Rachel Coppage has dual roles in part time capacity as an art psychotherapist in private practice and lecturer at AUT teaching Deaf World courses. She refers to Deaf Studies theory on allyships, including Deaf-hearing partnerships, in her teaching resources. However, there is limited research on interpreting where Deaf people take lead in professional settings. She has employed external NZSL-English interpreters for her Deaf World classes in mixed cohorts of Deaf and non-deaf ākonga. She looks forward to sharing her experiences collaborating with Julia as a designated interpreter for many years.

Interpreter strategies for rendering codeswitching (English/ Te Reo Māori) from spoken source texts

Rachel McKee

Codeswitching between English and te reo Māori is now common in public discourse in Aotearoa New Zealand, especially at ormal public events such as meetings, conferences, and ceremonies. NZSL interpreters are often asked to work at such events, but not always taken into account in planning. Codeswitching generally takes two forms: intra-sentential (inserting or switching to an alternate language at the level of word, clause or phrase), and inter-sentential (switching languages between sentences or longer passages of talk) (Poplack 1980).

Translanguaging is another term for language mixing which de-emphasises boundaries between languages. Whatever we call it, working from a source message that shifts between languages can present challenges for sign language interpreters. As per the general population, few NZSL interpreters are proficient in te reo Māori and have varying levels of vocabulary knowledge. When speakers at events codeswitch into te reo Māori to fulfil tikanga functions (such as at a pōwhiri), or use many Māori words to signal cultural alignment, NZSL interpreters must decide how to render the meaning of the source text (which might be party inaccessible to them) and whether/how to signal the speaker’s sociopragmatic intent in their language choices. Prompted by our experience and observation of this challenge, we examined some samples of publicly recorded events and interviewed interpreters about their experiences to identify strategies for responding to this linguistic demand.

Our presentation will share these strategies and interpreter insights with the aim of stimulating ideas about being prepared for working in a changing linguistic landscape.

Rachel McKee is an Associate Professor in the School of Linguistics and Applied Language Studies at Victoria University of Wellington. She was first trained as a sign language interpreter in 1985. With her husband David, Rachel established programmes for sign language interpreters, Deaf NZSL teachers, and adult learners of NZSL at VUW. Her research includes dictionary and grammar of NZSL, sociolinguistic topics, interpreting studies, and language policy.

NZSL styles in online video posts: implications for interpreting practice

Catherine Greenwood

In the past, information in NZSL was shared through face-to-face communication. Now, many NZSL signers post videos online to communicate with an unseen audience, for example through social media. This new mode of sharing information brings change in signing styles, which will inevitably impact the work of NZSL-English interpreters. 

As part of my Master’s degree, I studied a collection of recent NZSL online posts produced by Deaf signers in order to describe features of ‘modern’ NZSL styles. In this presentation I will report on my investigation into how the signers connect with the unseen audience. I will also share insights into Deaf participants’ perspectives on the strategies used, and their impact on viewers.

It is vital interpreters are aware of these new features in NZSL, given the increasing frequency in which NZSL-English interpreters are working in: online settings with multiple participants, and media conferences that are livestreamed over the Internet/television. The lack of a visible audience and backchanneling means interpreters need to ensure their NZSL production and pace is as clear as it can be, to retain audience engagement. This presentation will provide food for thought on how NZSL is evolving and its implications for interpreters.

From Translation to Innovation: Deaf-Led AI and the Future of Access

Kara Technologies

As we celebrate 20 years of NZSL as an official language and 30 years of SLIANZ, this session reflects on how far our profession has come and where we are heading next. 

Kara Technologies was founded with a simple but powerful vision: Deaf people should not be excluded from emerging technologies. In this presentation, we will share the journey behind Kara Auto Translate (KAT), including both KAT AI and KAT Hybrid. 

KAT AI is designed for pre-recorded and repetitive content, large-scale public information, and emergency situations where rapid access is critical. It translates English text into sign language within minutes, addressing content that would otherwise remain inaccessible. 

KAT Hybrid incorporates human oversight, combining AI efficiency with linguistic and cultural expertise to strengthen accuracy and context. 

Rather than replacing interpreters, these services address access gaps: internal communications that are rarely budgeted for, public information not routinely translated, and urgent situations where no interpreter is immediately available. 

We will explore: 

• Why Deaf-led AI development matters 
• Where AI can support access and where it should not be used 
• Ethical considerations for interpreters 
• Opportunities for collaboration between Deaf innovators and interpreting professionals 

Honouring the past means recognising the advocacy and expertise that brought us here. Looking to the future means engaging with emerging technologies thoughtfully and proactively. 

This session invites interpreters to consider how we shape that future together. 

Signs of the Times – NZSL, AI and What Interpreters Need to Know Now

Erica Dawson

Twenty years ago, Aotearoa recognised New Zealand Sign Language as an official language. As
we mark that milestone, artificial intelligence is reshaping the landscape our community fought
for and built.

Captioning, voice-to-text, summarisation, automated translation tools, and avatar technology
are increasingly present in everyday communication and institutional settings. These tools may
expand access in some contexts, but they also introduce risks for language integrity, interpreter
practice, and Deaf self-determination.

I come to this topic as a Deaf Pākehā woman, as Manager of Communications and Engagement
at Deaf Aotearoa, as Co-Deputy Chair of the NZSL Board advising government on language
strategy, and as a member of the World Federation of the Deaf Ad Hoc Group on AI and National
Sign Languages. I’m also beginning my MA exploring Deaf identity and AI-powered tools. This
presentation reflects developing thinking and focuses on the questions I am living with rather
than settled conclusions.

The session will explore three questions: (1) Where can AI realistically support access and
interpreter capacity? (2) Where does AI create harm – including inaccurate outputs and the
erosion of NZSL’s distinctiveness as a language? (3) How can a Deaf-led, Te Tiriti-informed
approach guide ethical decision-making and professional boundaries?

I’m not here to position AI as the enemy or the saviour. I’m here to ask: who gets to decide what
“good enough” looks like, and how do interpreters hold the line when the technology says it’s
fine?

Another way is possible—Reimagining NZSL interpreting in our health system

Rachel Noble

Health New Zealand | Te Whatu Ora is rethinking New Zealand Sign Language (NZSL) interpreting services to improve long-term wellbeing and health outcomes for Deaf people across Aotearoa. This work sits within the wider programme of spoken-language interpreting, while recognising the distinct context and needs of NZSL interpreting. It builds on decades of advocacy by Deaf leaders, interpreters, and communities, offering strong foundations for a more sustainable, equitable, and responsive future system in New Zealand.

Currently, access to interpreting services varies across Health NZ districts, creating inconsistent experiences for Deaf communities. To address this, a nationally coordinated approach is being explored, designed to provide consistent, high-quality services that respond to community needs.

Our work is guided by the New Zealand Sign Language Act 2006, the Pae Ora (Health Futures) Act 2022, and the Code of Expectations for engagement with consumers and whānau. These frameworks ensure that equity, access, and meaningful community involvement remain central to service design.

Through the Disability Health team, we are engaging with Deaf whānau, interpreters, sector leaders, and system partners to inform the development of a national service. This session will share our emerging thinking and invite participants to contribute their perspectives on what matters most in health interpreting services.

Another way is possible—one grounded in evidence, lived experience, and strong relationships. By combining care, trust, and high-quality interpreting, we aim to design a health interpreting system that is consistent, accessible, and responsive, delivering better outcomes for Deaf communities across Aotearoa.

Standing on Their Shoulders: Honouring NZSL Interpreting Pioneers

Facilitated by Rachel Tate

As Aotearoa’s interpreting profession reaches significant milestones — 30 years of SLIANZ and 20 years of NZSL as an official language — this panel offers a timely opportunity to honour the senior interpreters who helped shape the field in its earliest days.

New Zealand has a relatively young interpreting profession. Many of the first formally trained interpreters are now approaching retirement, taking with them lived histories that are rarely captured in formal training or literature. This panel creates space to preserve, celebrate, and learn from those experiences.

Through a lightly facilitated, story-rich conversation, panellists will reflect on the realities of interpreting in earlier decades — from training pathways and Deaf/hearing partnerships to professional recognition, ethics, and the evolution of community relationships. Alongside these reflections, the session will intentionally hold a warm and humorous tone, inviting anecdotes, unexpected lessons, and candid insights that bring our shared history to life.

The discussion will also look forward: What has changed? What has been gained — or lost? And what wisdom do these pioneers hope the next generation will carry into the future, particularly as technology and AI begin reshaping the profession?

This session aligns strongly with the conference theme by honouring the past while actively connecting it to the profession’s future. Attendees will leave with a deeper sense of lineage, identity, and appreciation for those whose shoulders we stand upon today.