ABOUT THE EVENT
TIME & LOCATION
Date: 21st – 22nd March 2026
Location: University of Auckland, Auckland CBD
Event Fee: $99 (Full scholarships available)
Applications close: 2nd March 2026
ABOUT THE EVENT
Tēnā koe e hoa! Auckland Model United Nations (AMUN) is back for 2026! Following the success of AMUN 2025, the largest UN Youth event in New Zealand, AMUN 2026 is set to continue the tradition while being better than ever! The event is held over two days at Waipapa Taumata Rau, the University of Auckland, where we welcome hundreds of rangatahi from Tāmaki Makaurau and beyond!
WHAT IS AMUN?
AMUN is held annually to enable high school students to develop a diplomatic perspective toward the world's most pressing issues. Delegates will each represent a country, creating a simulation reminiscent of a standard United Nations General Assembly. The topics of debate will surround both current and relevant real-world challenges. Participants will represent their country's viewpoints while considering their nation's political, economic, and cultural climates. They will delve into the issues of an interconnected world wrought with complexities while simultaneously working together to create solutions for these contentious global issues.
OUR GOAL
The theme for this year’s conference, “UN + Ravel,” invites delegates to unravel the complexities that shape our world. Throughout every committee, delegates will be encouraged not only to examine global issues as they appear on the surface, but to trace the threads beneath them—the histories, perspectives, and interconnected truths that give rise to the challenges before us through shared stories, lived experiences and their knowledge of the wider world.
By thoughtfully engaging with nuanced and sensitive topics, delegates will gain the opportunity to deconstruct assumptions, probe unfamiliar viewpoints, and strengthen their capacity to reason with clarity and empathy. As debates unfold, they will learn to untangle disagreements constructively, transforming conflict into dialogue and discovering the power of active listening as a diplomatic tool in diplomatic dialogue.
WHY SHOULD I ATTEND AMUN?
AMUN provides numerous opportunities for both personal and professional growth. This growth is fostered through a range of interactive workshops, committee sessions, and guest speakers for rangatahi to empower one another. Delegates will develop strong connections with fellow high school students and gain new insights into international affairs. Whether a participant is an introvert or an extrovert, new to politics, or a future Prime Minister, AMUN provides a valuable experience for all delegates to gain new knowledge and skills. By offering new perspectives and debates on international affairs, delegates are given opportunities to grow their confidence, strengthen their public speaking and develop negotiation skills.
This conference allows delegates to better understand their place in the world as global citizens. We hope delegates will leave our conference feeling empowered and inspired to spark positive change within both their local and global communities. Regardless of whether this is a delegate's first UN Youth event or their tenth, AMUN 2026 will be an experience to remember!
COMMITTEES
DISEC – Disarmament and International Security Committee
Focuses on global security challenges such as disarmament, weapons control, international peace, and preventing conflict. It’s the First Committee of the General Assembly.
UNEP – United Nations Environment Programme
Leads the UN’s work on environmental issues. It researches climate and pollution, supports sustainable development, and helps countries build policies to protect the planet.
UNSC – United Nations Security Council
Responsible for maintaining international peace and security. It can impose sanctions, authorise peacekeeping missions, and issue binding resolutions.
UNESCO – United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organisation
Promotes global cooperation in education, science, culture, and communication. It protects heritage sites, supports education, and fosters cultural diversity.
SPECPOL – Special Political and Decolonisation Committee
Deals with political issues that don’t fit DISEC’s scope, especially decolonisation, peacekeeping operations, refugees, and outer space affairs.
GA – General Assembly
The main deliberative body where all 193 UN member states have equal representation. It discusses global issues, sets priorities, and passes non-binding resolutions.
LIAISONS
At UN Youth, we aim to provide a comfortable and warm environment for our conference goers. We believe that everyone has a place regardless of abilities, background, and experiences. At AMUN 2026, we will have specialised liaisons that have a focus on supporting delegates who identify as LGBTQ+ and/or with neurodiversities, ranging abilities, and sensory difficulties.
SCHOLARSHIPS
Financial circumstances should not prevent participants from taking part in our events. We have scholarships available to cover the $99 registration fee. If you require financial support to attend this event, please apply for a scholarship and indicate this on your registration form. Note: this is a need-based scholarship and will not be based on academic merit.
SOCIAL MEDIA
One of the best ways to keep up to date with event updates and announcements is through following our socials! Be sure to follow our Facebook, Instagram, and TikTok.
If you have any questions about the event, please don’t hesitate to contact our Communications Officer, Jackson Whitehead, at [email protected]
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.