Elisabeth Brown, Finn Egan, Tim Gibb and Eleanor Green will meet students from around the world who are coming together to simulate the activities of the United Nations and to experience the challenges of international negotiation and diplomacy.
“It’s not an opportunity that lots of people in New Zealand get and I think there’s a bit of prestige attached to it,” says Finn Egan, a third-year International Relations and Development Studies student.
“We can bring a uniquely New Zealand perspective while also learning about countries and people from other corners of the world.”
The students will be representing Singapore throughout the conference, and had the chance to discuss foreign policy with the Singapore High Commission during a planning weekend in Wellington late last year. As well as learning more about their adopted nation, they will meet a delegation from that country.
The students are studying a range of subjects but agree that a shared passion for International Relations brings them together.
“Even though we’re at different stages of our lives and are studying different things, we all have a genuine interest in how the world works,” says Eve Bain, a fourth-year Law, French and International Relations student, who is co-director of the New Zealand team.
Students across New Zealand were asked to submit an expression of interest in being selected for the first New Zealand team. UN Youth New Zealand was overwhelmed with more than 100 applications.
As well as attending the HNMUN conference in Boston, the group will enjoy a study tour, visiting San Francisco, Washington DC and New York. There will be time for some sightseeing but the students will also meet with staff from the World Bank, various embassies and Oxfam America. The team’s last stop will be in Honolulu to relax and debrief about their time in the United States.
“Anyone can go on holiday to America but you can’t meet and have a roundtable with a New Zealander who now works as a policy adviser at Oxfam,” says Eve.
“It’s about getting insights that you can’t get from a text book or a lecture.”
Fifth-year Law, International Relations and Criminology student Tim Gibb agrees and is looking forward to making connections with some role models.
“A lot of us are heading in the direction of working with these corporations internationally and it’s great to see New Zealanders actually 'making it' over there.”
The students from Victoria will join seven students from the University of Auckland and three students from the University of Canterbury to make up the delegation.