WHAT IS NZ MODEL UN?
NZ Model UN (NZMUN) is UN Youth’s flagship Model UN conference. The event offers four days of thrilling debate, engaging guest speakers, and an all round inspiring experience. Through high quality educational content and facilitation, delegates interested in global affairs, debating, or civics have the chance to experience the Model UN format at its most premier level. Delegates at all skill levels are welcomed to join in on this immersive learning experience. Guaranteed to provide education, excitement, and fun, this event is not to be missed.
Hosted at Victoria University in the heart of Wellington, NZMUN offers secondary school students the chance to experience life as a diplomat. Between engaging problem-solving workshops, to simulated committee sessions, students will be given a platform to discuss important topics relevant to global affairs. In the process of debate, students will learn more about the world and their place in it as a global citizen. Furthermore, as a cohort of 280 like-minded individuals, students can band together, build friendships, and tackle the world - one problem at a time.
Delegates will emerge from NZMUN more equipped to make a difference in their communities, and more empowered to influence the decision making which affects them. NZMUN is an experience like no other, overflowing with benefits and opportunities for those who partake.
The theme chosen for NZMUN 2023 is UN+Conventional, to acknowledge the world we live in today. Emerging from a long battle with COVID-19 and its lockdowns, the way that rangatahi experience school and everyday life has changed drastically. But further from this, 2023 has also brought more unconventional civil, political and environmental issues. From erratic natural events to unpredictable world leaders, the year has certainly been unorthodox. NZMUN not only allows delegates to delve into civil and political topics in a safe environment, but also encourages delegates to listen to different perspectives, perhaps unconventional to them.
WHAT IS UN YOUTH?
We are a non-profit organisation that provides civics education outside the traditional classroom context. Through fun workshops and conferences, we engage youth in the most pressing affairs of their country and the international community. Our goal is to inspire young New Zealanders to be active, global citizens. Global citizenship exists in an incredibly diverse range of forms, and UN Youth provides opportunities for delegates to develop their own form of active citizenship. Throughout Aotearoa, our work equips young people to become informed, engaged, and critical New Zealanders who understand their global context and the connections between the local and the global. Annually, over 3000 young New Zealanders from Northland to Southland attend a UN Youth event, run by a body of 150 volunteers across the country who dedicate many hours of their time to engaging young people and growing the organisation.
WHAT HAPPENS AT THE CONFERENCE
Committee Sessions
Each delegate will experience three committee sessions throughout the conference. These sessions are designed to encourage debate, critical thinking, and negotiation skills between delegates. There are also 3 special committees, in which select delegates are able to demonstrate a high level of in-depth problem solving as it pertains to certain UN bodies – such as the UN Security Council, the International Court of Justice, and NZMUN Crisis Committees.
Workshops
Workshops feature engaging scenarios and formats which give delegates a chance to showcase and learn communication, creative thinking, and persuasive speaking skills. Separate from committee sessions, workshops do not require the delegates to be representing their countries while in them, but are rather a means of engaging delegates on an interactive level. Previous workshops have included Interactive Problem Solving (IPS) scenarios, ethics workshops, and negotiation based workshops.
Apart from the educational content, there are also many social aspects to NZMUN. Chiefly, the Opening Ceremony, Regional Group Dinners, and of course, the Gala – a highly anticipated cocktail-style evening event for delegates to dance and network at the end of what is sure to have been an invigorating conference!
ACCESSIBILITY
We aim to make our conference accessible to all participants, so if you have accessibility needs, we will do our best to accommodate those. Please let us know how we can help you!
If you have any questions or issues, please contact Grace at [email protected]
GENERAL COMMITTEES
These sessions will comprise a variety of General Assemblies and other committees. The conference revolves around the theme UN+Conventional, instilling integrity on challenging issues
The Question of Autonomous Weapon
This DISEC Committee Aims for delegates to recognize the increasing threat of autonomous weapons. Recent conflicts around the world have had more presence of Autonomous weapons. Hence leading to escalating conflicts due to the unpredictable manner and aggravating humanitarian needs.
The Question to the Right of Water and Sanitation
The right to clean drinking water and sanitation are a universal human right. Ii is of high importance as it sustains every person’s life. According to the International Covenant on Economic, Social and Cultural Right, these 5 criteria are used to specify the right to water and sanitation. These include the quality of water, acceptability of sanitation, accessibility of water and sanitation and lastly affordability.
The Question of Criminal Justice
The Question of criminal justice focuses on the effect of sustainable responses towards criminal rehabilitation.
The Question of Land Sovereignty of Indigenous People
The committee deals with the rights of indigenous people to land and territories. This committee has an application worldwide. Land needs to be looked at from a communal perspective rather than from an individualistic perspective. The main aim for delegates is to come to a harmonious relationship built upon the State Authorities and Indigenous communities.
The Question of Drug Regulation
Drug consumption, no doubt, has been proven to lead to immediate health repercussions including death. This topic forces delegates to balance between the social and economic impact of drugs. Delegates must be able to find the optimal solution to decrease drug use.
The Question of Data Pollution
Internet infrastructure is often not considered on the impact of pollution. Data pollution is responsible for 3.7% of CO2 emission globally making 50% more than air transport (2.4%). The UN environmental Programme has a responsibility in addressing this due to the impact it has on climate change.
SPECIAL COMMITTEES
These sessions will comprise a variety of committee sessions in specialised formats where delegates will be challenged to create solutions for both crisis conditions and disputes over rights.
ICJ: Australia vs Japan, whaling in the Antarctic
In this committee, delegates will act as the judging body of the International Court of Justice (ICJ) presiding over a dispute between Australia and Japan over Japan's whaling activities in the Southern Ocean. Delegates will take into account the submissions made by all parties, the evidence presented and the relevant international statutes and treaties in the hopes that a positive outcome can be reached.
Crisis Committee: West Papua Dispute
In this committee, delegates will have to work through an approach to address the ongoing violence and human rights abuses in West Papua, develop a plan for the delivery of aid to address the needs of the people of West Papua and ensure that the UN can support the self-determination of the West papuan people.
Security Council: The Question of Military Accountability
The Security Council is responsible for the maintenance of international peace and security. It calls upon respective parties in a dispute to use peaceful means and recommend methods of adjustment. This committee's main purpose is to focus on military abuse particularly on civilians and for respective countries. By doing so, it creates stability within nations protecting international peace and security.
PRESS CORPS
The Press Corps Programme is integral to NZMUN as it frames the narrative of the conference. Over the last two years, this programme has seen redevelopment and revitalisation to maintain its importance to the conference at large. Being a member of the Press Corps allows students to represent different press media outlets, such as CNN, NZ Herald or Al-Jazeera, to name a few.
The media has always held an essential role in conveying information and heavily influences how much bias is portrayed in the news. While facts may follow a universal truth, the preference that is placed onto these facts to create stories and articles are not afforded the same intellectual purity.
The Press Corps is responsible for accurately representing the press in the simulation of the United Nations and will be reporting on and distributing data and information to delegates during the conference.
Being a part of the Press Corps allows students the opportunity to learn about journalism, hone their skills of writing and critical thinking, and gives students a chance to analyse how to best represent the media outlets they’ve been assigned to. This programme also provides conference delegates with a way to reflect on what they’ve been doing throughout NZMUN.
Press Delegates will be writing the narrative of what goes on in committee sessions throughout the conference, with guidance from trained Press Delegate Facilitators.
COSTS
The cost of attending the conference will be $250. This will cover expenses such as NZMUN merchandise, conference venue, meals throughout the event, transportation and the gala. You will be sent an invoice once you have been accepted to the conference unless you receive a scholarship.
Please note this fee does not cover your accommodation in, and transport to Wellington.
SCHOLARSHIP INFORMATION
A number of scholarships are offered for delegates who otherwise wouldn't be able to afford to attend the conference. There are three types of scholarships offered: Embassy scholarship, Māori and Pasifika Scholarship and Committee scholarship. If you are awarded an embassy scholarship, you will likely attend the embassy that awarded you the scholarship on one of the days of the conference. Each scholarship covers the registration fee for the conference. Some particular scholarships may assist in the cost of regional delegation.