Future Race Relations – What New Zealand Youth Want
Background
In 2019, as a response to the March terrorist attacks we held a Youth Diversity Forum , in collaboration with the Human Rights Commission and mana whenua Ngāi Tūāhuriri and Ngāi Tahu, to support a cross-ethnic discussion, addressing racism, education and spirituality. The forum generated a lot of talk, many ideas and a clear vision for the kind of Aotearoa young people want to live in.
These talks, ideas and the clear vision lead to the creation of a key messages document – a call to action from youth – outlining changes they wish to see to race relations in New Zealand.
The document Future New Zealand Race Relations – what NZ youth want, asks all sections of society to examine the way they communicate and listen to others .
More than 90 young people contributed their voices to this document.
New Zealand Youth Voice Heard in Paris
Future New Zealand Race Relations – what NZ youth want was presented by UNESCO Aotearoa Youth Leader, Ashlee Peacock to youth from around the world at the 11th UNESCO Youth Forum which took place in Paris in 2019. The youth forum was held in parallel to the 40th UNESCO General Conference.
The document was also shared during New Zealand’s plenary statement to the 2019 General Conference, delivered by Ashlee together with the National Commission Chair, Robyn Baker.