Radio New Zealand - Te Reo Irirangi o Aotearoa

More training needed for interpreters

Updated at 6:33 am on 14 November 2011

A researcher into Maori tourism says more effort needs to go into training translators for tourists who can't speak English or te reo.

Trisha Dwyer, a Masters student in Tourism Management at Victoria University, has conducted in-depth interviews with guides who cater for tourists who want to learn more about Maori heritage and customs.

She says 76% of tourists in 2008 were from overseas and guides often have to work through interpreters or use simple language for those who don't speak English well.

Ms Dwyer says more effort needs to go into training interpreters so the guides' messages are not lost in translation.

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