"Since wars began in the minds of men, it is in the minds of men that the defences of peace must be constructed . . ."
Preamble to the UNESCO Constitution

The United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organisation (UNESCO) is one of 18 specialised agencies of the United Nations system.

The end of World War II saw representatives from 44 nations gather to create an organisation that would embody a genuine culture of peace. The new organisation had to establish the "intellectual and moral solidarity of mankind" and, in doing so, prevent the outbreak of another world war.

At the end of the conference, 37 countries founded the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organisation. The Constitution of UNESCO signed on 16 Noevmber 1945, came into force on 4 November 1946.

New Zealand was one of those founding nations and was the second country in the world to ratify the UNESCO constitution.

Link to UNESCO Constitution

:: Nau mai ! Haere Mai ::

:: Welcome ::

The New Zealand National Commission for UNESCO is attached to the Ministry of Education's International Division and is the focal point for UNESCO-related policies and activities.

The Commission is part of the global community of 195 UNESCO National Commissions, each acting as an essential partner to UNESCO in its respective country.

:: MAKING THE GOOD THINGS LAST - KIA MAU TONU AI KO NGA HUA PAI . . . ::

Latest News from the NZ National Commission for UNESCO
Read our latest ENewz

:: UN International Year of Languages 2008 ::

We are championing the activities of academics, students, teachers, newcomers to New Zealand, and all those for whom language is the key to communication, and communication is the key to understanding.

WHO'S AFRAID OF BILINGUALISM? : UNESCO LECTURE
Wednesday 2 July 2008
Link to Lecture

Do you know of a group or organisation that would like to be involved with the International Year of Languages 2008 in New Zealand? If so: please contact us!

:: FUNDING ::

The New Zealand National Commission for UNESCO is pleased to announce its new funding initiative, the 'UNESCO Contestable Activity Fund' (UCAF)

Applications for activities that will be undertaken between 1 July 2008 and 30 June 2009 have closed. The next deadline is 1 May 2010.

more

:: NZ NATIONAL COMMISSION FOR UNESCO ::

2008 DIARY OF EVENTS

JULY

2 July
Who’s afraid of bilingualism? Some insights into and reflections on language learning in English language communities
Speaker: Professor Anne Pauwels, The University of Western Australia and the University of Birmingham
Venue: National Library Auditorium, Molesworth Street, Wellington, New Zealand
Date: Wednesday 2 July 2008, 3pm – 5pm
Professor Pauwels’ presentation focuses upon the impact globalisation is having on multilingualism and linguistic diversity throughout the world.
For more information about this lecture: pauwelsabstract08.doc

3-5 July
Gender & Language Conference
Link to 5th Annual Gender and Language Association Biennial Conference (IGALA5), Wellington

4-6 July
ACE Annual Conference
Adult & Community Education (ACE) Aotearoa National Conference: Manukau Institute of Technology, Auckland. Colour Our Language: Encouraging and Celebrating the Diversity in ACE
Link to Ace Aotearoa

6-9 July
Language Teachers Biennial Conference
NZ Association of Language Teachers Biennial Conference: Absolutely Positively Languages, Wellington

21-27 July
Maori Language Week 2008
Link to Maori Language Week This year's focus: Te Reo i te Kainga - Maori language in the Home

AUGUST

17-23 August
International Languages Week

SEPTEMBER
11 -13 September 2008
Tauvaga Tautalaga mo le atunuu atoa - National Samoan Language Speech Contest
Lower Hutt, New Zealand

Autu: Theme - Soifua Maloloina / Health

OCTOBER

2-5 October
Community Languages & ESOL Conference, Community Languages and ESOL Conference, CLESOL 2008, Kings College, Otahuhu, Auckland, Languages and Identity: Building Communities of Learning

NOVEMBER

17-18 November
New Zealand Language and Society Conference University of Otago

UNITED NATIONS INTERNATIONAL YEAR OF LANGUAGES 2008

:: TE TAU O TE KOTAHITANGA O NGĀ KĀWANATANGA O TE AO MŌ NGĀ REO KATOA 2008 ::

International Day of Mother Language
Te Rā mō ngā reo tipu o te ao

Clyde Quay Primary School students at the launch 21 February 2008

Press Releases

Speeches

Related Sites

:: International Year of Planet Earth ::

On 12 and 13 February 2008, the International Year of Planet Earth was officially launched at UNESCO’s headquarters in Paris. This event was co-organised by the IYPE Corporation and the National Committee for the IYPE in France, together with IUGS and UNESCO. For more information please visit the Planet Earth Website

New Zealand Post souvenir stamps for the International Year of Planet Earth

click here to enlarge image

:: Annual Report ::

Read our latest Annual Report

:: Strategic Plan 2008-2009 ::

Read our latest Strategic Plan

:: New Human Rights Convention Ratified ::

First Convention on Human Rights in the 21st Century: The International Convention on the Protection and Promotion of the Rights and Dignity of People with Disabilities more