The United Nations is being ‘brought to ground’ in Tauranga in April.

On April 20 (evening) & 21st the United Nations Association of New Zealand is joining with the University of Waikato at Tauranga in a symposium to highlight the importance of the UN to the community, the diversity of its influences, and the opportunities for the community to be involved. The theme is:

The UN and the Community
with a slogan:

---- Global problems need global solutions ----

Opened by the Mayor, Stuart Crosby, with a keynote address by the Rt Hon Winston Peters, the symposium brings together people from politics, the University, business, public service, community action and the UN itself.

This symposium takes place on Friday evening and Saturday, and is part of the National Conference of the United Nations Association. This conference includes, on Sunday the 22nd, the finals of the national secondary school speech awards on the topic:

“The United Nations: what’s in it for New Zealand?”

Winners from competitions around the country will be coming together to compete in this event. This event is open to the public.

The symposium has been preceded by an invitation sent to 300 community groups to explore the significance of the UN in issues of importance to them. This invitation has been supported by the UNANZ web site which points to resources on over 70 different issues which the UN and its agencies are addressing. Awards will be presented to those participating.

This is an event that is a first for Tauranga, and comes at a critical time. Attention is being focussed on the traumas and chaos of international events, largely ignoring the ways in which nations cooperate with non government organisations and corporations to address global problems. There are many opportunities and challenges in understanding these developments and ensuring that New Zealand benefits from them.

Further information available on the web site: www.unanz.org.nz

As well as from the conference coordinator, Gray Southon,
Ph 07 5787119, mb: 0211 020 977, em: unanz07@unanz.org.nz
Mailing address; Box 2056, Tauranga.

See attachment for printable version.

Details are as follows:
Three basic messages will be highlighted:

The UN is important for the community.
The future of New Zealand depends vitally on international developments. Whether its international conflict, disease control, the environment or energy resources, we are integrated with the rest of the world. Increasingly, we need to have global perspectives on complex global problems. The UN is the key to focussing global attention onto critical issues.

The UN influences the community in many different ways.
The UN is active on a very wide range of areas bearing on almost all aspects of daily life, going far beyond the peacekeeping and disaster relief issues that dominate headlines. It also engages a wide range of players, including community organisations, corporations and individual experts as well as governments.

Members of the community can influence the UN.
Through the many involved organisations, as well as many Internet channels, the UN and associated institutions are increasingly open to ideas from a wide range of interested organisations and individuals. The system is not perfect, and there is plenty of scope for concerned people to contribute to its improvement.

Speakers

Stuart Crosby Mayor of Tauranga
Opening
Rt Hon Winston Peters - Minister of Foreign Affairs, Leader of the NZ First Party
The UN and NZ interests
Dr. Joan Mosley Director, UN Division, Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Trade
Representing NZ Interests in the UN

Dr. Steven Lim Senior Lecturer, Waikato Management School of the University of Waikato
Business Interests and the UN

Prof Dan Zirker Dean of the Faculty of Arts and Social Sciences at The University of Waikato
The University’s Contribution
Ms. Mary Wareham Advocacy Director of Oxfam New Zealand
Community Engagement
Mr. Abdullah Saleh Mbamba Director, UN Information Centre, Canberra
Representing the United Nations
Prof Richard Bedford Professor of Geography and Director of the Population Studies Centre at the University of Waikato.
Population Issues

Hon Murray McCully National Party Spokesman on Foreign Affairs

Ends

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