Aotearoa Youth Declaration 2026 Volunteer Applications

“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. You can read more about each rōpū here. 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. 

AYD wouldn’t be possible without the support of the volunteers that help run the conference. From behind the scenes to facilitating rōpū discussions, there’s a wide variety of roles that each ensure AYD is a success, and that participants have the best time. Volunteering gives you the opportunity to build upon existing skills, while also gaining new ones. You can meet all kinds of new people and build relationships you wouldn’t have otherwise. 

We need people to volunteer in the following roles (which you can read more about below):

• Rōpu Facilitator

• Welfare Officer

• Regional Delegation Officer

• Māori and Pasifika Peoples’ Liaison

• Accessibility Liaison

• Queer Liaison

• Logistics Officer

• Media Officer

If you have any questions about volunteering at AYD, please contact our Volunteers Officer, Mele, at [email protected]. 

Roles Available

Rōpū Facilitator

Rōpū Facilitators facilitate discussions within rōpū, run workshops and lay the groundwork for your rōpū to feel like a whānau. Facilitators help participants draft policies that are included in the Declaration. The best facilitators create a safe environment where participants feel comfortable to share their ideas, opinions and experiences.

Welfare Officer

Welfare Officers are responsible for making sure the conference is a safe space for both participants and volunteers. As a part of the wider Welfare team, Welfare Officers support the mental, physical and spiritual wellness of everyone at the conference. The best Welfare Officers are organised, empathetic and compassionate. While a first aid certificate is preferred, this is not essential.

Regional Delegation Officer 

The Regional Delegation (RD) programme provides food, accommodation and transport to participants from outside of Auckland during the conference. RD Officers care for RD participants outside of conference hours. RD Officers are responsible for the wellbeing of participants and have to deal with issues that may arise. As such, our RD officers need to be responsible, have strong communication skills, and be a friendly face. RD is often a highlight for many participants, and it’s the RD officers that make this happen.

Māori and Pasifika Peoples’ Liaison 

The Māori and Pasifika Peoples’ Liaison team build relationships with Māori and Pasifika participants, supporting them throughout the conference. If you are empathetic, aware of cultural needs, and well-rounded you’ll make a great Māori and Pasifika Peoples’ Liaison.

Accessibility Liaison

Accessibility Liaisons support neurodiverse participants, those with disabilities and sensory issues. Our Accessibility Liaisons make sure AYD is a safe and comfortable place for these participants, ensuring their needs are met throughout the conference. The best Accessibility Liaisons are welcoming, friendly and understanding of all participants.

Queer Liaison

Queer Liaisons ensure that LGBTQ+ participants feel safe at the conference. Our Queer Liaisons empower queer participants to engage with the content, to ensure they are represented within the Declaration. This means making participants feel comfortable in rōpū rooms and out, being able to have conversations about sensitive topics, and understanding the struggles many of our LGBTQ+ participants face.

Logistics Officer

Logistics Officers work behind the scenes, ensuring that the conference runs smoothly. In this role, you will serve food, sign participants into the conference at the beginning of the day and more. Logistics Officers think on their feet, have good communication skills and work well in a team environment.

Media Officer

Media Officers put their creative skills (and camera) to use to capture the conference. The Media team, led by the Promotions Officer, is tasked with capturing the moments that make AYD special, whether that be robust discussion in rōpū rooms or lively conversations during lunch. This role is perfect for people who like being behind the camera and want to experience all that AYD has to offer (you get to see a bit of everything)!