UNESCO Aotearoa Youth Leader Raven Maeder attended the Forest and Bird Youth Council event ‘Ngā here: many connections’ on 26 September. She writes about the experience. Held at Victoria University, Ngā here was a youth-led career and opportunity development event. Its purpose was to enable students to engage with a range of professionals working a… Read more »
Major grant recipients announced
The New Zealand National Commission for UNESCO has awarded four grants worth $102,000 in total in its 2018/2019 Contestable Funding Round. “The successful projects contribute to some of the National Commission’s priority areas, including the contribution of indigenous knowledge in shaping a sustainable future; and the importance of oceans to the wellbeing of people and… Read more »
Taking the lead at National Commissions meeting
Secretary General Vicki Soanes took an active leadership role at the Asia-Pacific Regional Meeting of National Commissions, held in South Korea this month. Thirty National Commissions were represented – mostly at the Secretary General level – including eight from the Pacific sub-region. There were also representatives from the UNESCO Secretariats of the Paris, Bangkok, Jakarta… Read more »
Why cultural heritage shouldn’t wait
UNESCO ‘Looking Beyond Disaster’ Ambassador Dr Dolapo Fakuade attended the First Aid for Cultural Heritage in Times of Crisis (FAC) course, held between 5-26 August in the Netherlands. She shares her experiences and observations. Heritage contributes to our sense of place, national identity and community, a sense that transcends geographical boundaries and generations. This makes… Read more »
Conservation Week function inspires
UNESCO Aotearoa Youth Leader Raven Maeder and Chair Robyn Baker attended the Conservation Week 2018 cocktail function at the Sustainability Trust in Wellington on 20 September. Raven reflects on the evening. It was a great pleasure and privilege to be in the presence of so many people working to protect our national Tāonga at the… Read more »
Pacific meets West at architecture symposium
An architecture symposium aiming to bridge the gap in indigenous and western knowledge took place in Samoa this month, with support from the New Zealand National Commission for UNESCO. Le Va Talanoa: The Return to the Fale was the first ever hands-on Architecture Symposium in Samoa. The talanoa (workshop) was open to students, professionals, academics… Read more »
Best practice learning from Global Geoparks conference
An international Global Geoparks Network conference in Trentino, Italy provided a powerful networking opportunity this month. The members of the Network, of which membership is obligatory for UNESCO Global Geoparks, are committed to working together, exchanging ideas of best practice, and joining in common projects to raise the quality standards of all products and practices… Read more »
Big Girls celebrate Suffrage 125
Giant puppets and paper lanterns lit up the Wellington waterfront in August in a special illuminated parade marking 125 years of women’s rights in Aotearoa. The New Zealand National Commission for UNESCO supported the Rangiwahia Environmental Arts Centre Trust (REACT) to stage the ‘Big Girls’ parade, as well as an exhibition at Wellington Museum. Around… Read more »
Grey Māori Collection drawings heading to London
Māori drawings from the Grey New Zealand Māori Manuscripts Collection will feature in the Royal Academy of London’s Oceania exhibition, marking 250 years since Captain Cook’s first voyage to the Pacific. The collection was inscribed onto the UNESCO Memory of the World New Zealand documentary heritage register in 2011 in recognition of its significance to… Read more »
Focus on global citizenship at NZIE Conference
The New Zealand International Education Conference (NZIEC) brings together practitioners and leaders from New Zealand and around the world to explore strategies for growth in international education. This year global citizenship was a key theme. Our Chair Robyn Baker reflects on her attendance at the event. It was an excellent opportunity to attend the New… Read more »
