ABOUT THE EVENT
Mō tātou, ā, mō ngā uri ā muri ake nei - for us, and for the descendants after us.”
Aotearoa Youth Declaration (AYD) is one of UN Youth’s three flagship events. AYD gives participants the chance to be heard, and empowers them to create change in their communities.
Participants from around Aotearoa attend the four day conference in Auckland, where they work in small rōpū (committee groups) to draft solutions to issues Aotearoa faces, ranging from education reform to biodiversity loss. These solutions are compiled into the Aotearoa Youth Declaration, a document that is sent to decision-makers across government, NGOs, and other influential groups. These decision-makers, from the Minister for Youth to charity CEOs, use the declaration to understand what Aotearoa rangatahi want to see.
Full Rōpū descriptions can be found here.
We invite high school students from across the country to attend AYD 2026. This is your opportunity to have your voice heard, develop new skills, and to create change that matters to you. Apply today!
If you have any questions about AYD or the Regional Delegation programme (see below), please contact our Registrations Officer, Johnny, at [email protected].
Regional Delegation
Participants from outside of Auckland are invited to apply for Regional Delegation which provides supervision outside of conference hours, breakfast, dinner, and four nights accommodation. The RD programme ensures participants from outside Auckland have a safe and fun time at AYD.
Regional Delegation applications are open to all participants from outside of Tāmaki Makaurau, from years 9-13. We especially encourage you to apply for RD if you would otherwise not be able to attend the conference without it.
What is UN Youth?
UN Youth is a non-profit organisation focused on providing civics education beyond traditional classrooms. We involve youth in critical national and international affairs through immersive workshops and conferences. We aim to inspire young New Zealanders to be active, global citizens. Global citizenship takes diverse forms, and UN Youth offers opportunities for delegates to develop their own active citizenship style.
Our work equips young people throughout Aotearoa to become informed, engaged, and critical New Zealanders, understanding their global context and the links between local and global scales. Annually, over 3000 young New Zealanders attend UN Youth events, run by more than 150 volunteers across the country - dedicating many hours to engaging youth and growing the organisation.
ABOUT UN YOUTH
UN Youth is 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 over 150 volunteers across the country who dedicate many hours of their time to engaging young people and growing the organisation.