When the job ended the couple moved to Wellington where for 13 years she worked for translation service NZTC International. Five years ago she told NZTC she was moving to Hawke's Bay and persuaded it to open a Hawke's Bay office, the only other office the company has outside Wellington and its 30 employees.
At first she was based in her Hastings home where she became increasingly busy.
"I managed to convince the CEO we needed an office - it was inadequate to work around the kitchen table.
"We received a lot of requests for interpreting. Some work is over the phone but primarily it is flying people to a destination."
While NZTC targets the business community, a common request was an interpreter for court appearances.
A growth area is co-ordinating interpreters in China for New Zealand organisations.
She said there was a "huge resource" of foreign language speakers in Hawke's Bay and the local office co-ordinates work nationally.
Four people staff the Hastings office.
"We have a Chinese doctor, a fantastic Indian lady with a New Zealand school teaching qualification and a lady who worked for 10 years in Italy. She is a Chinese Kiwi who grew up in Hawke's Bay and her husband is also Italian."
The Hawke's Bay office continues to grow, with a fifth employee due to start.
"We have a one-stop shop in Hawke's Bay and co-ordinating training here, Wellington and Christchurch. It is quite exciting."
She said her return to Hawke's Bay has also worked out well for her husband, two children and their grandmother.
"My mother lives just seven minutes away. She's still over the moon."
