:: Greetings from the NZ National Commission for UNESCO ::

The end of World War II saw representatives from 44 nations gather to create the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Oranisation, an organisation that would embody a genuine culture of peace.

Member states establish their own national commissions and in New Zealand, we are based within the Ministry of Education’s international division in Wellington.

Our National Commission members are experts in UNESCO's key action areas.

Left to Right: Laurence Zwimpfer (Deputy Chair, Communications), Keri Kaa (Culture), Dame Silvia Cartwright (Chair), Elizabeth Rose (secretary general), Edna Tait (Education), Rosemary Du Plessis (Social & Human Sciences), Andrew Matthews (Natural Sciences)

Functions
1. To advise the Government of New Zealand on matters relating to UNESCO and on all matters referred to the Commission by the Minister of Education.
2. To act in a consultative capacity with regard to the appointment of New Zealand delegates to the General Conference of UNESCO and to other meetings and conferences of UNESCO, and the recruitment of New Zealand personnel of suitable quality to UNESCO posts.
3. To act in an advisory capacity to the delegations of New Zealand to the General Conference of UNESCO, to other meetings and conferences of UNESCO, and to New Zealand members of the Executive Board of UNESCO.
4. To serve as an agency of liaison with organisations, institutions and individuals in New Zealand interested in the activities of UNESCO.
(Article VI of the National Commission Constitution, October 1994)

Associate Members of the National Commission
The Ministry of Education
The Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Trade
The Ministry for Culture and Heritage
The Ministry of Research, Science and Technology
The Department of Conservation
The Ministry for the Environment