Telephone and video interpreting service
Telephone and video interpreting service for government agencies
March 2025 update to telephone and video interpreting services
Panel selected
The Telephone and Video Interpreting Services Panel has now been established. The selected providers are:
- 2M Language Services
- All Graduates Interpreting and Translating
- Connecting Now (the current provider)
Current contract expiring
The current contract with Connecting Now ends on 31 March 2025.
The new Panel contract starts on 1 April 2025.
Ensure your agency has signed the new Panel contract by 31 March 2025.
Background information
Our previous service provider (former ezispeak) went into liquidation in 2021. MBIE has decided to take a strategic approach of procuring a panel of providers to deliver telephone and video interpreting language assistance services. This ensures there is a range of interpreters and languages available to meet the needs of service users and provide business continuity for New Zealand government.
MBIE has been utilising Connecting Now as a single provider while the panel procurement has been underway. Connecting Now also went through the procurement process to continue providing services as a panel member.
As part of the tender process, suppliers have been evaluated based on factors including their experience and ability to provide a high volume of language interpreting services.
There have been delays with the procurement process due to the complexity of the cyber security assessment. It is crucial to ensure that our providers can safeguard data, manage potential risks, and maintain compliance with industry regulations.
The telephone and video interpreting service helps government agencies to communicate with clients with limited English proficiency through telephone or video interpreters available 24 hours a day, seven days a week, in over 120 languages.
Check for eligibility
The telephone and video interpreting service is available to participating government agencies through a government contract.
All agencies generally entitled to purchase services under collaborative contracts (e.g. central government departments, crown entities and local government authorities) are eligible to join this contract.
If you are unsure about your eligibility to join this contract, you should visit the Government procurement website, and apply for eligibility if necessary.
Find out if your agency is eligible(external link) — New Zealand Government Procurement and Property
Join the telephone and video interpreting service through the government contract
If you are new to the telephone and video interpreting service and would like to join, you need to check the eligibility information first.
If you are eligible contact LAS@mbie.govt.nz for further information and sign-up documents.
New Zealand government agencies signed up to telephone and video interpreting
List of participating agencies
Telephone and Video Interpreting Services Panel providers
The telephone and video interpreting services are provided through a panel of providers in over 120 languages:
- 2M Language Services
- All Graduates Interpreting and Translating
- Connecting Now
2M Language Services
2M Language Services specialises in enabling seamless, real-time telephone and video communication across languages.
2M is an Australasian Language Service and Language Technology Provider with a proven track record of providing pre-booked and on-demand interpreting services across Australia and New Zealand to organisations to assist them to engage with Culturally and Linguistically Diverse communities.
In New Zealand 2M has been providing interpreting services under the Open Syndicated Panel Agreement for face-to-face interpreting services with the population target of people with limited or no English language proficiency who require access to public services and information as well as visitors to New Zealand needing access to essential services and information.
With 250+ languages spanning established as well as rare and emerging languages and dialects and a focus on punctuality, accuracy, and confidentiality, 2M's services are tailored for various industries, including healthcare, legal, and business, ensuring clients receive outstanding support whenever and wherever they need it at the click of a button.
2M Language Services(external link)
Email interpreting@2m.com.au
Phone +64 9 802 3766
All Graduates Interpreting and Translating
Servicing over 1,000 Government and Non-Government Organisations across Australia and New Zealand, All Graduates facilitate more than 150,000 interpreting sessions each year, including face to face, telephone and video.
All Graduates’ telephone and video interpreting services ensure seamless communication, no matter the location. With an established pool of New Zealand-based interpreters, All Graduates are continuously upskilling practitioners to exceed client expectations and deliver quality services across all sectors.
All Graduates are committed to making communication with Culturally and Linguistically Diverse (CALD) communities easy and accessible. All Graduates develop trusting and mutually rewarding relationships with their interpreters and translators, and the public service, and together deliver a gold standard to CALD communities.
All Graduates apply best practice and use the latest technology to deliver services. Their in-house development team offers extensive IT integration capabilities tailored to client needs.
Key features:
- Servicing all regions all in New Zealand
- Specialising in telephone and video interpreting
- Translating and multilingual document formatting
- Personalised interpreter training
- Smart invoicing capabilities
- Interpreter booking app
- Timesheet automation
- API connectivity
- Independent and privately owned
All Graduates provide interpreting services in over 150 languages, catering to the diverse needs of New Zealand’s multicultural community.
On-Demand services are readily available for common and widely spoken languages. Some rare languages may require pre-booking as they may not always be available on-demand.
All Graduates Interpreting and Translating(external link)
Email bookingteam@allgraduates.co.nz
Connecting Now
Connecting Now is a language service provider committed to enabling seamless communication across cultures.
Connecting Now’s ethos is - equitable access to services, across New Zealand government Departments and Ministries. Connecting Now’s focus is on ensuring non-English speaking clients have access to services in their language of choice.
With over 125 languages, utilising 800+ interpreters, operating 24/7 and 365 days a year, Connecting Now’s on-demand service is easy to use, when needed, in the language that is required.
In 2024, Connecting Now helped facilitate conversations in over 120 languages, with an average connection time of less than 1 minute.
Phone interpreting service is available on-demand or pre-booked, and video translation service is available pre-booked.
Connecting Now(external link)
Email support@connectingnow.co.nz
Last updated: 06 March 2025
