Challenging young people to debate the big issues - in this case the legalisation of drugs - was the purpose of an event held last month.

Close to 50 students from around the region came together on Tuesday September 22 for a Model United Nations (UN) Youth Summit, a workshop for high school students to explore the most pressing issues for New Zealand and the international community. 

The topic of the legalisation of drugs, and specifically the legalisation of recreational cannabis use, was chosen for its timeliness, with the national referendum on cannabis coming up on October 17. 

“It was an absolute pleasure seeing our future leaders, politicians, and world-changers embracing the challenge,” UN Youth NZ Otago-Southland regional president 2020 Liesje de Bruin said. 

The day-long workshop aimed to inspire future leaders to engage in constructive, solution orientated debate, to build resilience and robust decision-making. Each student represented a member state/country of the UN to debate the chosen topic.

The event was run in partnership with Carly Green and Monique Kelly, UN Youth NZ Otago-Southland and secondary schools from within the region.

Each student represented a different UN member state/country while taking part in the event, which was designed to build resilience.

Monique said there was an “excellent turnout” for the inaugural event, which was held at the Lake Wanaka Centre.

“Key learnings were around understanding how to work with diverse thinking, negotiating on difficult subjects, collaboration as well as leadership skills,” she said.

UN Youth New Zealand creates opportunities for young New Zealanders to engage with pressing global affairs and lead in the spirit of the UN. As well as its Model UN events for high-school and tertiary students, it offers outreach programmes and workshops.

Liesje said she was “ecstatic” to have successfully hosted a Model United Nations event in Wanaka: “I cannot wait for a repeat in 2021."

PHOTOS: Supplied