Diplomat Experience gained at New Zealand Model United Nations

Five Macleans College students travelled to Wellington to attend the New Zealand Model United Nations (NZMUN) held from 4 – 7 July.

Hosted by Victoria University of Wellington, NZ Model United Nations offered secondary school students the chance to experience a taste of life as a diplomat. Between workshops and simulated committees, students were given a platform to discuss important topics for the international community. In the process of debate, students learned more both about the world and their own place within it as a global citizen. Furthermore, alongside 270 like-minded individuals, students could band together, build friendships, and ‘tackle the world, one problem at a time’.

The delegates were required to put forward their nation’s viewpoints in select committees and argue for amendments to substantial global issues, such as immigration policies, climate change consequence and funding, action against global pandemics, the question of free trade, and the treatment of ethnic minorities.

Over the four-day event, along with debates and resolution amendments, an opening ceremony was held in the House of Representatives. The guest speaker was List MP Marja Lubeck. Regional group dinners were held throughout Wellington City to promote the geographical region that delegates were placed in. Guest speakers were invited to speak about their respective entrepreneurial experiences after NZMUN, international charities linked to NZMUN, and topics regarding societal issues in New Zealand. A school ball-themed Gala was held at Te Wharewaka o Poneke Function Centre on the final day and, a plenary session, of approximately 130 delegates debated on the nominated UN Resolution as a whole.

The students involved were Surathbudh Ebata (Batten House), Duvithri Serasinghe (Kupe), Snand Sharma (Mansfield), Daniela Romero Mittelstaedt (Snell), and Henry Lockhart (Kupe).