WATIS Interpreting Service
WATIS Interpreting Service is managed by Asian Health Services and provides interpreting services for Waitemata DHB's hospital and community based services. WATIS provides a 24 hour, 7 days a week service and contracts more than 200 interpreters to cover 123 languages and dialects (including NZ Sign Language, Asian, Pacific, European, Middle Eastern and African languages).
Please note:
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WATIS Interpreting Service is intended accessible to health and disability service providers only.
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If you are a patient / client, please do not contact WATIS directly. If you require an interpreter for your hospital / clinic appointment, please contact your health service provider directly and request an interpreter through their service.
Service Aims
Working together to:
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Ensure health services are accessible
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Improve communication
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Improve and maintain clinical safety
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Reduce inappropriate and preventable use of emergency and secondary care services
Why are Professional Interpreters Required?
Healthcare providers are required to comply with the following legislation:
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Health and Disability Commissioner Act - Code of Rights (1994): Right 5 states that every consumer has the right to effective communication. When it is necessary and practicable, the consumer has the right to a competent interpreter
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Mental Health (Compulsory Assessment and Treatment) Act (1992): Section 6 states that healthcare providers must ensure the services of a competent interpreter are provided where practicable, when one of the following applies:
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the first or preferred language of the person is a language other than English, including Maori and New Zealand Sign Language; or
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the person is unable, because of physical disability, to understand English