Treaty Times 30 event at Upper Hutt Library

Wellington, New Zealand – 1 May 2017: For immediate release

NZSTI presents the book Treaty Times Thirty containing 30 translations of the Treaty of Waitangi to His Worship Mayor Wayne Guppy

On Thursday 11 May 2017, on behalf of the New Zealand Society of Translators and Interpreters (NZSTI), the organisers of the Treaty Times Thirty project will present the book The Treaty Times Thirty to His Worship Mayor Wayne Guppy at a public event at the Upper Hutt City Library at 6pm.

One hundred and sixteen translators worked together on the translations of the English and Māori versions of the Treaty into 30 languages, including New Zealand Sign Language. This is the result of a project conceived to celebrate the Society's 30th anniversary.

'The translations of the Treaty of Waitangi in the many languages of our country will add significantly to people’s understanding of New Zealand’s founding agreement' said Treaty expert Dame Claudia Orange, a key supporter of the initiative. Project spokesperson Stefan Grand Meyer adds 'the publication of the translations aims to make the Treaty more accessible to immigrants, and to encourage a better understanding of the Treaty internationally.' As former Settlement Support Officer for the Upper Hutt City Council, Cecilia Titulaer said ‘The Upper Hutt City Council, led by Mayor Guppy, has always been very supportive of the ethnic communities living in our city. I hope this book makes them feel even more at home’.

The Treaty Times Thirty project also stresses the importance of translation in New Zealand, and highlights the translator's difficult task of re-expressing identical meaning from one language to another. It shows the importance of professional and accurate translations.

The project has received the support of major organisations such as Archives New Zealand, the Office of Ethnic Communities, the Delegation of the European Union to New Zealand and the Ministry for Culture and Heritage. It is hoped that the resulting book, The Treaty Times Thirty, will be seen as a valuable gift to all New Zealanders.

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