United Nations Association of New Zealand - UNANZ - Wellington Branch

United Nations Association of New Zealand - UNANZ - Wellington Branch The United Nations Association of New Zealand – Wellington Branch (UNANZ Wellington) is part of New Zealand’s people's movement for the United Nations.

We work to foster understanding of and engagement with the mission and values of the UN. The United Nations brings together nearly every country in the world to tackle pressing global challenges—from peace and security to poverty, hunger, climate change, and human rights. While progress has been made, there is still much to be done. We believe community involvement is essential to making the UN more effective and responsive to global needs. At UNANZ Wellington, we are committed to the ideals of the UN Charter and the Universal Declaration of Human Rights. Our role is to promote and support the goals of the UN, helping to share its principles across our communities and bring its vision closer to reality. We are a volunteer-led, non-governmental organisation and a registered charity. As part of the national UNANZ network, we collaborate with regional branches, a youth association, and affiliates across Aotearoa New Zealand. We are also a proud member of the World Federation of United Nations Associations (WFUNA). Join Us
Membership is open to individuals and community groups who share our vision of a more peaceful, just, and sustainable world.

Last week UNANZ Wellington, together with the New Zealand English Language Training for Officials Team, held a speaker p...
05/10/2026

Last week UNANZ Wellington, together with the New Zealand English Language Training for Officials Team, held a speaker panel on Learning Without Borders and how education can be used as a tool of diplomacy.

Sustainable Development Goal 4 of Quality Education is not just important in its own right, but it is key to achieving so many of the other SDGs including eliminating poverty, economic growth, reduced inequality, and strong institutions.

We are very grateful to our speakers for giving their time to appear on the panel and share their lived experience of the value of education:

Daniel Greener, from the British High Commission

Di Solomon, from Education New Zealand

Amy Rutherford, from Te Herenga Waka—Victoria University of Wellington

Professor Alberto Costi, from Victoria University Faculty of Law

Shane Coleman, from the Ministry of of Foreign Affairs and Trade

We are hosting a panel next week in combination with the NZELTO Programme, exclusive to UNANZ members.Join us for an eng...
25/09/2026

We are hosting a panel next week in combination with the NZELTO Programme, exclusive to UNANZ members.

Join us for an engaging discussion on the possibilities of global education and how learning connects us across borders.

We will cover New Zealand’s role in global and regional education cooperation, especially in the Pacific, and practical examples of how education partnerships and policy can contribute to wider diplomatic objectives and progress towards Sustainable Development Goal 4.

Our panelists include:
Di Solomon of Education NZ
Amy Rutherford of VUW
Daniel Greener of the British High Commission
Alberto Costi of VUW
Robert Ennor of UNANZ

There will also be a reception after the event, where light food and refreshments will be provided. The registration page is in the comments.

This week 20 students and young professionals took part in the Kitea Solutions Lab x UNANZ Wellington workshop on Unders...
23/09/2026

This week 20 students and young professionals took part in the Kitea Solutions Lab x UNANZ Wellington workshop on Understanding Child Poverty in Aotearoa through the lens of the UN Sustainable Development Goals.

The participants presented their understanding of what child poverty is and how it can be measured, and then pitched a policy proposal to reduce one aspect of child poverty. Proposed solutions from the groups focused on accesss to quality education, food security, and sense of community and belonging.

Community leader Wheldon Curzon-Hobson opened the event with stories of his experience in development work overseas and what SDG 1 of No Poverty means to Aotearoa New Zealand.

Select students will work with UNANZ Wellington over the next few weeks on producing a policy paper with recommendations on reducing child poverty to deliver to decision-makers.

Happy World Peace Day!On Sunday afternoon, delegates from Wellington’s UNA NZ branch attended a World Peace Day event ho...
21/09/2026

Happy World Peace Day!

On Sunday afternoon, delegates from Wellington’s UNA NZ branch attended a World Peace Day event hosted by the Pan Pacific South East Asia Women’s Association. 🌏🕊️

It was a privilege to hear from four inspiring speakers throughout the afternoon offering their unique perspective on what peace means for them.

As UN Secretary-General António Guterres reminded us in his 2026 message:
“Volunteers, advocates, civil-society leaders, peacekeepers and peacemakers are bridging divides, uniting communities and pushing for dialogue. Action by action, they are building peace from the ground up."

Peace is not simply an aspiration, it is something we create through dialogue, compassion, understanding and meaningful action, every day.

Thank you to the Pan Pacific South East Asia Women’s Association for continuing to create spaces where women can connect, lead and contribute to peace.

Did you know that this week was the first time animitronic robots have been in Parliament? AUT - Auckland University of...
06/09/2026

Did you know that this week was the first time animitronic robots have been in Parliament? AUT - Auckland University of Technology took the opportunity to showcase their creations, controlled by their students, at their alumni drinks in Wellington.

It was great to hear from Tertiary Education Minister Penny Simmonds MP about the contributions AUT is making to the robotics workforce and the cool creations coming out of their campus.

AUT graduates Minister for Local Government Simon Watts MP for North Shore and MP Dr David Wilson also spoke about the value they got from their alma mater in paramedicine and regional economic development respectively, demonstrating the variety offered by New Zealand's youngest university.

Our colleagues at Massey University - Te Kunenga ki Pūrehuroa are hosting a symposium on online misogny and its real-wo...
31/08/2026

Our colleagues at Massey University - Te Kunenga ki Pūrehuroa are hosting a symposium on online misogny and its real-world effects on women and girls everywhere.

Tailored for public servants and community organisations alike, with a keynote presentation from Professor Cynthia Miller-Idriss.

More information and registrations can be found at the link in the comments.

Standing room only at the launch of Against the Tide: Aotearoa New Zealand in World Affairs Volume V last week! Hosted b...
17/08/2026

Standing room only at the launch of Against the Tide: Aotearoa New Zealand in World Affairs Volume V last week!

Hosted by NZIIA Wellington Branch - New Zealand Institute of International Affairs and published in conjuction with Te Herenga Waka—Victoria University of Wellington

It was fantastic to hear from some of the contributors, complete with a panel discussion and finishing with some networking and nibbles.

When the nature of warfare changes, the conversations around peace must evolve with it. 🇺🇳Members of UNANZ Wellington re...
17/08/2026

When the nature of warfare changes, the conversations around peace must evolve with it. 🇺🇳

Members of UNANZ Wellington recently joined the New Zealand Centre for Global Studies’ 13th Annual Lecture at Parliament, “New Challenges in the Ethics of War and Peace.”

Held in the Legislative Council Chamber, the evening brought together Dr Nik Parkin, Chair of Philosophy Teachers Aotearoa New Zealand, and Associate Professor Jeremy Moses of the University of Canterbury for a timely discussion on the ethical questions emerging from modern weapons and warfare, moderated by Associate Professor Anna Hood.

At a time when armed conflicts and rapidly evolving military technologies continue to challenge the international community, these conversations matter. They ask us to consider not only how warfare is changing, but what those changes mean for human dignity, international law and the pursuit of lasting peace, principles that sit at the heart of the United Nations.

Thank you to the New Zealand Centre for Global Studies and Philosophy Teachers Aotearoa New Zealand | Ngā Kaiako Mātauranga Whakaaro for convening this important discussion, and to Hon Mark Mitchell MP and for co-hosting the evening.

It was wonderful to see members of our UNANZ Wellington whānau there and to connect with others committed to thoughtful dialogue on the challenges facing our world today. 🌏🕊️

Standing room only at the launch of Against the Tide: Aotearoa New Zealand in World Affairs Volume V last week! Hosted b...
17/08/2026

Standing room only at the launch of Against the Tide: Aotearoa New Zealand in World Affairs Volume V last week!

Hosted by NZIIA Wellington Branch - New Zealand Institute of International Affairs and published in conjuction with Te Herenga Waka—Victoria University of Wellington.

It was fantastic to hear from some of the contributors, complete with a panel discussion and finishing with some networking and nibbles.

Submissions to the United Nations Association speech awards close this week!The competition is open to anyone presenting...
12/08/2026

Submissions to the United Nations Association speech awards close this week!

The competition is open to anyone presenting a speech between 6-8 minutes long, and is a great opportunity to get feedback from the knowledgeable judges.

More information can be found at the link in the comments.

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