WHAT IS NZ MODEL UN?
New Zealand Model UN (NZMUN) is UN Youth’s flagship Model UN conference happening on the 4th - 7th July 2024. 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. Delegates will navigate the intricacies of negotiation, world power dynamics, and interpersonal discourse. Surrounded by over 200 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 vision behind the theme "UN+Paralleled" for NZMUN 2024 is to capture the unique dynamics of a contemporary global landscape, marked by rapid change and unconventional challenges. This conference will go beyond the ordinary, inspiring delegates to explore uncharted territories in international relations. NZMUN 2024 seeks to foster innovation, adaptability, and open-mindedness, inviting participants to navigate the complexities of unconventional issues with creativity. Our goal is to create an inclusive platform where diverse perspectives converge, acknowledging the interconnectedness of global challenges and encouraging a nuanced approach to problem-solving for a more dynamic and ever-evolving world.
WHAT IS 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.
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 – previous examples include the UN Security Council, the International Court of Justice, and 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, 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 evening event for delegates to dance and network at the end of what is sure to have been an invigorating conference!
For a sneak peak at what the educations will be covering this year, visit this link: NZMUN Educational Content Overview
Delegate registrations are set to open on the 1st April 2024 and will close on the 5th May 2024. If you have any questions about delegate registrations, please contact Alexandra at [email protected]
PRESS CORPS
The Press Corps Programme is integral to NZMUN as it frames the narrative of the conference. NZMUN continues to develop this unique aspect of the conference each year to provide students the opportunity to experience how press and media can influence global affairs and how they are perceived by the public. 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 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. They are also given an opportunity to have their writing showcased and distributed in a daily newsletter published during the conference.
ACCESSIBILITY
UN Youth New Zealand aims to make our conference accessible to all participants and volunteers. If you have accessibility needs or if there is any way that we can make NZMUN more comfortable for you, we will do our very best to accommodate. Please let us know how we can help you!
If you have any questions or issues, please contact Alexandra at [email protected]
COSTS
The cost of attending the conference is $290. This will cover expenses such as NZMUN merchandise, conference venue, meals during the day, 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 or transport to Wellington, or meals outside of the conference times.
REGIONAL DELEGATION
Regional Delegation (RD) is a programme in which we can provide delegates with organised accommodation and meals for the duration of the conference at a fixed price of $270. This cost is additional to the conference fee. RD is a safe accommodation option supervised 24/7 by Regional Delegation volunteers. If you are travelling to Wellington and concerned about logistics or staying alone, this could be the solution for you! You can apply for Regional Delegation in your general conference application and we will update you via email. Please note that there are limited spaces available and the Regional Delegation programme is subject to interest.
SCHOLARSHIP INFORMATION
A number of scholarships are offered for delegates who require one to attend the conference. You can apply for these while filling out your registration form. We offer two types of scholarships, Committee scholarships and Embassy scholarships. Recipients of embassy scholarships may be offered the opportunity to visit the respective embassy. Each scholarship covers the registration fee for the conference.
If you have any questions to be addressed, please feel free to send an email to Alexandra at [email protected]