Ngā Rongo Kōrero
News and Views
View our latest news, media releases, newsletters and event updates. Hear from our commissioners, UNESCO Aotearoa Youth Leaders, and our collaborating agencies and organisations. Read our latest updates or delve into the past.
We were proud to once again support the 2025 Race Unity Speech Awards National Semi-finals, Finals, and Race Unity Hui, held at the beautiful Ngā Kete Wānanga Marae, MIT, Ōtara Campus on May 3rd and 4th.
We would particularly like to acknowledge Jordyn Pillay from Ormiston Senior College, the overall champion. She received both the Tohu Raukura-ā-Motu NZ Police National Champion’s Award and the Tohu Whetumatarau – Ministry for Ethnic Communities Award for Vision.
We would particularly like to acknowledge Jordyn Pillay from Ormiston Senior College, the overall champion. She received both the Tohu Raukura-ā-Motu NZ Police National Champion’s Award and the Tohu Whetumatarau – Ministry for Ethnic Communities Award for Vision.
The global significance and value of the Katherine Mansfield’s literary and personal papers have been recognised with a listing on UNESCO’s International Memory of the World Register.
This inscription of the Mansfield Collections, which is held at the Alexander Turnbull Library, National Library in Wellington, elevates the status of the documentary heritage collection, placing it alongside other internationally recognised landmarks in history.
This inscription of the Mansfield Collections, which is held at the Alexander Turnbull Library, National Library in Wellington, elevates the status of the documentary heritage collection, placing it alongside other internationally recognised landmarks in history.
We have a jam-packed newsletter featuring our highlights from the first two months of 2025.
Read all about (and watch) an event we recently hosted celebrating the contribution that Global Education Monitoring (GEM) reports make to education-policy domestically and world-wide. We were thrilled to have the Minister of Education join us as our keynote speaker, alongside our international speakers - the Director of the GEM reports and the President of the Commonwealth of Learning - and our own Education Commissioner.
Plus much more . . .
Read all about (and watch) an event we recently hosted celebrating the contribution that Global Education Monitoring (GEM) reports make to education-policy domestically and world-wide. We were thrilled to have the Minister of Education join us as our keynote speaker, alongside our international speakers - the Director of the GEM reports and the President of the Commonwealth of Learning - and our own Education Commissioner.
Plus much more . . .
On Wednesday 5 March we were honoured to host a special event celebrating the contribution that Global Education Monitoring (GEM) Reports make to domestic and global education-policy.
The event, which took place at Wellington’s National Library, included speeches from the Minister of Education, Hon Erica Stanford, the Paris-based Director of GEM Reports, Manos Antoninis, New Zealand National Commission for UNESCO Education Commissioner, Professor Gail Gillon and President of the Commonwealth of Learning, Professor Peter Scott.
GEM reports are editorially independent reports, hosted and published by UNESCO, which help to monitor and report on progress towards meeting Sustainable Development Goal (SDG) 4.
The event, which took place at Wellington’s National Library, included speeches from the Minister of Education, Hon Erica Stanford, the Paris-based Director of GEM Reports, Manos Antoninis, New Zealand National Commission for UNESCO Education Commissioner, Professor Gail Gillon and President of the Commonwealth of Learning, Professor Peter Scott.
GEM reports are editorially independent reports, hosted and published by UNESCO, which help to monitor and report on progress towards meeting Sustainable Development Goal (SDG) 4.
A youth-led New Zealand project is among 100 global projects which have been awarded a financial grant by UNESCO and K-pop icons and UNESCO Goodwill Ambassadors SEVENTEEN.
The projects, representing 70 countries, were selected by an international jury for their potential to drive change, build creative communities, or improve young peoples’ mental health and well-being. The majority of the projects will work through music, sports and the arts.
The New Zealand project chosen is the Refugee Youth Active and Empowered initiative. Designed by and for refugee youth, this programme uses physical activities to empower young refugees from regional New Zealand.
The projects, representing 70 countries, were selected by an international jury for their potential to drive change, build creative communities, or improve young peoples’ mental health and well-being. The majority of the projects will work through music, sports and the arts.
The New Zealand project chosen is the Refugee Youth Active and Empowered initiative. Designed by and for refugee youth, this programme uses physical activities to empower young refugees from regional New Zealand.
The National Commission is saddened to hear of the passing of the Hon Russell Marshall, who served as the Chair of the New Zealand National Commission for UNESCO from 1990 until 1999.
A significant achievement of Russell’s during his time as Chair was representing New Zealand on the UNESCO Executive Board, the last time New Zealand was represented on the Board.
Russell was widely respected within UNESCO circles not only in New Zealand but across the Pacific and globally.
“As Chair of the New Zealand National Commission, he was a progressive thinker skillfully identifying synergies between UNESCO’s international programme objectives and developments in this country and opportunities for engagement,” says Elizabeth Rose, who was the Secretary General of the National Commission while Russell was Chair.
A significant achievement of Russell’s during his time as Chair was representing New Zealand on the UNESCO Executive Board, the last time New Zealand was represented on the Board.
Russell was widely respected within UNESCO circles not only in New Zealand but across the Pacific and globally.
“As Chair of the New Zealand National Commission, he was a progressive thinker skillfully identifying synergies between UNESCO’s international programme objectives and developments in this country and opportunities for engagement,” says Elizabeth Rose, who was the Secretary General of the National Commission while Russell was Chair.
