Ka nui te mihi ki a koutou katoa.

The United Nations Association of New Zealand will be holding its national conference – Advancing the 2030 Agenda - on Thursday 28 September 2023.

In the interest of public safety, this event will now take place online due to possible disruption at Parliament.

Dr Sir Ashley Bloomfield, former Director-General of Health, and Dr Alan Bollard, former Executive Director of the APEC Secretariat in Singapore and Governor of the Reserve Bank of New Zealand, are confirmed keynote speakers. His Excellency Dr Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, Director-General of the World Health Organization, will also provide a special address.

Panel discussion speakers include Member of Parliament Ibrahim Omer, Ambassador Carolyn Schwalger, New Zealand's Permanent Representative to the United Nations in New York, Mary Wareham, Advocacy Director of the Arms Division of Human Rights Watch, and Sophie Handford, Paekākāriki–Raumati Ward Councillor at the Kāpiti Coast District Council.

Panel discussions will cover a range of topics including The Climate Challenge, Reforming the United Nations and Countering disinformation and rebuilding trust in institutions.

This year marks the midpoint of the United Nation’s 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development. With development gains being reversed by multiple global crises, including conflicts, climate change and the coronavirus pandemic, urgent action is needed to achieve the Sustainable Development Goals. This conference, our flagship event, will explore what actions need to be taken to advance the 2030 Agenda.

The half-day conference will take place from 1.00pm - 6.00pm. The full programme can be accessed here.