The United Nations Association of New Zealand (UNANZ) is the people's movement for the United Nations in New Zealand. We promote understanding of, and engagement with the UN.

The UN brings virtually all people’s together to address global issues and is becoming increasingly important in determining our future. It promotes world peace and justice, and works to eradicate poverty and hunger. The UN still has far to go to achieve its objectives, and we are committed to its improvement. It is imperative that the community is involved in ensuring that the UN is effective.

UNANZ promotes and supports the aims and objectives of the United Nations, and are committed to the ideals embodied in the UN Charter, and Universal Declaration of Human Rights We are a means by which the principles of the UN Charter can be shared widely and its vision realised.

UNANZ is a national community volunteer organisation, made up of regional branches, a youth association, and affiliates across New Zealand. UNANZ is also a registered charity, and a member of the World Federation of United Nations Associations. It is a non-government organisation and an approved charity.

Membership is open to members of the public and select community groups and organisations.

For more information about UNANZ, membership, or questions or comments about the content of this website, please contact the National Office. UNANZ members are interested in hearing about your efforts to be engaged with or to raise awareness for the United Nations.

UNANZ is not an agency of the United Nations, but is associated to the Economic and Social Council through its World Federation of United Nations Association, WFUNA.

New Zealand's closest formal United Nations presence is in Canberra, Australia. You can find them here: United Nations Information Centre for Australia, New Zealand, and the South Pacific.   

Activities

UNANZ works to educate New Zealanders about the activities of the United Nations and its agencies. We would also like to bring public attention to New Zealand's involvement, and make more information available about how ordinary New Zealanders can become involved in working with the United Nations. Our current focus is working together with others to raise the importance of finding ways to achieve the Millennium Development Goals, Global Security and UN Renewal.

UNANZ organises a number of activities, programmes and events throughout the year:

Education Programme

UNANZ aims to educate New Zealanders about the workings of the United Nations. Our Youth Association, UN Youth New Zealand runs the well established New Zealand Model United Nations programme, holding events at both national and international levels. By role-playing delegations to the UN, students learn about different countries and the complex interactions between national interests.

View UN Youth New Zealand...

Community Engagement

UNANZ engages members of the public in current UN related issues, presenting key speakers and experts on UN issues. Nationally this includes forums with visiting UN notaries and panel discussions with experts around New Zealand.

Community engagement is continued at a regional level through our branches, who undertake a number of local activities including anything from arts projects to lecture series.

UNANZ also celebrates special UN related days, and endeavors to keep UN issues before the public.

View upcoming UNANZ events...

National Conference

The National Conference is the premier UNANZ event which brings together members from our branches to participate in panel discussions, and hear from speakers from throughout the world. The conference also hosts our National Secondary School Speech Awards finals.   

View more information about this year's National Conference and AGM...

Becoming Involved in UNANZ

We welcome participation from anyone who would like to contribute towards our aims, whatever your interests and skills may be. UNANZ membership is organised into regional branches. We also have a youth association - for students and members under 25 - and a number of affiliated organisations across New Zealand.

There are many ways you can be involved, from taking on an active role to being a member and occasional supporter. If you would like to volunteer your time and skills to UNANZ, becoming involved in our regional branches is a great place to start.

Joining UNANZ is easy! Contact the National Office, or download a copy of our membership form.  

History

UNANZ was founded shortly after the United Nations itself in 1945, and is formally associated with the UN Department of Public Information.

These days UNANZ is a member of the World Federation of United Nations Associations (WFUNA). This provides us with links to other United Nations Associations throughout the world, and helps us to keep up-to-date with UNA activities around the world. 

The President of WFUNA is Ambassador Park, Soo Gil, former Ambassador for Korea to the European Office of the United Nations in Geneva. His predecessors include Dr. Hans Blix, former foreign minister of Sweden, and Rhyl Lady Jansen, former National President of UNANZ.

UNANZ is also currently supported by the We the Peoples Foundation. This trust is working to grow a capital base for the organisation.

Established in 2002, it exists to assit the funding of the operations and activities of UNANZ. 

Societies Registration No.: 215914

Charities Commission Registration: CC 38918

GST No.: 10-664-373