Plain language law

New Zealand law explained for everyone

Substance Addiction (Compulsory Assessment and Treatment) Act 2017

Assessment and treatment of persons suffering from severe substance addiction - Procedure

84: Interpreters to be provided

You could also call this:

"You get a helper to interpret if you don't speak English or need sign language."

Illustration for Substance Addiction (Compulsory Assessment and Treatment) Act 2017

If you are a patient and your first language is not English, or if you prefer to speak Māori or New Zealand Sign Language, the court must get an interpreter to help you. This also applies if you have a disability that makes it hard for you to understand spoken language. The court will only get an interpreter if it is possible to do so. The court must make sure the interpreter is competent and can help you understand what is happening, as far as is reasonably possible, you can find more information by looking at the related legislation.

This text is automatically generated. It might be out of date or be missing some parts. Find out more about how we do this.

This page was last updated on

View the original legislation for this page at https://legislation.govt.nz/act/public/1986/0120/latest/link.aspx?id=DLM6609236.

Topics:
Health and wellbeing > Mental healthRights and equality > Anti-discrimination
Previous

83: Court may dispense with hearing in certain circumstances, or

"The court can decide without a hearing if no one wants to speak."

Next

85: Appeals from decisions of Family Court, or

"Challenging a Family Court decision about someone with a severe substance addiction"

Part 2Assessment and treatment of persons suffering from severe substance addiction
Procedure

84Interpreters to be provided

  1. The court must ensure that the services of an interpreter are provided for a patient if—

  2. one of the following applies:
    1. the first or preferred language of the patient is a language other than English, including Māori and New Zealand Sign Language; or
      1. the patient is unable, because of disability, to understand spoken language; and
      2. it is practicable to provide the services of an interpreter.

        1. The court must ensure, as far as is reasonably practicable, that the interpreter provided is competent.

        Compare
        • 1992 No 46 s 6