The Youth Diversity Forum we held in Ōtautahi in October 2019, generated much talk, ideas and a clear vision for the kind of Aotearoa young people want to live in. The forum culminated in the creation of a key messages document – a call to action from youth – outlining changes they wish to see to race relations in New… Read more »
UNESCO Aotearoa Youth Leaders
Ashlee Peacock, youth leader, reflects on her time at the 40th UNESCO General Conference
Ashlee Peacock attended the 40th UNESCO General Conference with the New Zealand delegation and spent two days attending and sharing ideas from Aotearoa at the 11th Youth Forum. Youth from all over the world were brought together to discuss transversals issues that were relevant and common to us all, regardless of country, culture or religion…. Read more »
Te Paepae o Tangaroa – Ocean’s Speak Symposium
Te Paepae o Tangaroa (Ocean’s Speak) was held in Gisborne 6 –7 October. The symposium was open to the public and brought academics and experts on the environment and oceans together to discuss the future of the sea. Social Sciences Commissioner, Peggy Fairbairn-Dunlop opened the second day of the hui, and spoke about the National… Read more »
Youth Diversity Forum Ōtautahi Christchurch
Nearly a hundred youth leaders from Christchurch and around the country came together in Ōtautahi Christchurch over the weekend of 4-6 October. The NZ National Commission for UNESCO, in collaboration with the Human Rights Commission (HRC) and mana whenua Ngāi Tūāhuriri and Ngāi Tahu, held the Youth Diversity Forum to support a cross-ethnic discussion, addressing… Read more »
Shahin at World Youth Conference on Kindness
The National Commission supported UNESCO Aotearoa Youth Leader Shahin Najak to attend the World Youth Conference on Kindness in New Delhi. She reports back on her experience. From the 19th to the 23rd of August, 60 world youth leaders from 27 countries gathered in O P Jindal International university, New Delhi to discuss the importance… Read more »
Youth leaders at Festival for the Future
From Friday 26 July to Sunday 28 July, our UNESCO Aotearoa Youth Leaders took part in Festival for the Future in Wellington. Raven Maeder reports back. Festival for the Future saw over 1200 delegates from around Aotearoa, and Asia-Pacific, gather in Wellington for a weekend featuring a diverse range of inspirational speakers – including Stacey… Read more »
Youth representation at UN meeting
UNESCO Aotearoa Youth Leader Ashlee Peacock was part of the panel which presented New Zealand’s Voluntary National Review (VNR) report to the United Nations at the High Level Political Forum on Sustainable Development in July. She also delivered a speech on youth and the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). She reports back on the experience. New… Read more »
UN Youth NZ celebrates 20th birthday
UNESCO Aotearoa Youth Leader Peter McKenzie represented the National Commission at the UN Youth NZ 20th birthday celebrations this month. He reflects on the event. UN Youth is a strange organisation. It works tirelessly to increase awareness of international relations and diplomatic practice among the unlikeliest demographic: high school and university students. Not only that,… Read more »
Climate change reflections – comparing Colombia and New Zealand
Former UNESCO Aotearoa Youth Leader Injy Johnstone has been doing some climate change work in Colombia through a Prime Minister’s Scholarship for Latin America. She compares New Zealand and Colombia’s attitudes and their impacts on climate change. Colombia and New Zealand share a lot, including a love of coffee and indigenous wildlife. However, there are… Read more »
Meet our UNESCO Aotearoa Youth Leaders
The New Zealand National Commission works with a team of 10 young people aged between 18 and 25 called the UNESCO Aotearoa Youth Leaders. Watch their YouTube video introductions to get to know them better! Group members primarily serve as advisors, negotiating inclusive ways for young people to be engaged and empowered in the National… Read more »
