Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II

Head of the Commonwealth

His Excellency Mr Kamalesh Sharma

Secretary-General of the Commonwealth

Hosted by

The Honourable Peter Dunne MP Minister of Revenue

Member of Parliament for Ohariu

Honourary Member of the Royal Commonwealth Society Wellington

New Zealand Student CHOGM Secretariat

Darryl Stevens Conference Director

Royal Commonwealth Society Wellington President

Chloe Oldfield and Aaron Hape Deputy Conference Directors

Victoria Rea and Joshua Ramsay Student CHOGM Secretaries-General

Joel Rowan Adviser to the Secretaries-General Immediate Past Secretary-General

Planning Team Darryl Stevens Chloe Oldfield Aaron Hape

Sandra Ivanov Simon Lynch Esther Kim

Samantha Knott Rhiannon Stannard Sam Regan

Anita Jones Joel Rowan Alex Bengree

Emil Kiroff

Conference Observers The Honourable Judith Collins MP Doctor Sean Palmer

Colonel Paul King Brian Anderton

Richard Cain Barbara Morgan

Suzie Riggs Christian Hermansen

Delegations

Country School Head of

Government

Foreign Minister

Australia Rangitoto College Joseph Foster

Belize Nelson College for Girls Steph Russell Lucy Gray

Canada Chanel College Righan Meehan

Cyprus Darfield High School Calum Gray Andrew Moffatt

Lesotho Timaru Boys High School Dean Jackson Logan Williams

New Zealand Palmerston North Boys

High School

Rhys Judd Caleb Fung

Malawi Rangi Ruru Girls School Brittany Rea Victoria Rea

Malaysia

Palmerston North Boys

High School

Edward Krishna

Papua New Guinea Awatapu College Charlotte Austin James Loads

Swaziland St Kentigern’s College Sam Barclay Ryah Chandler

Sri Lanka Scots College Joshua Ramsay Ash Stanley-Ryan

The Maldives St Kentigern’s College James Gardiner David Liu Trinidad & Tobago Sacred Heart College,

Lower Hutt

Sarah Pereira Olive Tupuivano-

Niutili

Uganda Palmerston North Boys

High School

Martin Girling-

Butcher

Seamus Barnett

United Kingdom St Peter’s School,

Cambridge

William Stone Luther Hare

Special thanks to:

Doctor The Right Honourable Lockwood Smith MP For access to Parliamentary facilities.

The Honourable Judith Collins MP Student CHOGM 2012 keynote speaker

Doctor Sean Palmer Special guest speaker

The Parliamentary Service For provision of equipment.

Epicure Catering For facilities setup and catering services.

Lithoprint Wellington

Overview

The 31st Student CHOGM

n 10 and 11 September, the Royal Commonwealth Society Wellington celebrated

the thirty-first anniversary of the National Student Commonwealth Heads of

Government Meeting, or simply, Student CHOGM.

This annual conference is held in the Legislative Council Chamber of Parliament Buildings in

Wellington. Year 12 and 13 students from around New Zealand are invited to attend the

two day conference, taking on the roles of Head of Government or Foreign Affairs Minister,

representing one of fifty-four Commonwealth member states. Student CHOGM is modelled

on the biennial Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting.

Students can also apply for the

position of Secretary-General, who presides over the debate

between their peers during the

conference. They are assisted by

their adviser and members of the

Student CHOGM Secretariat.

Media delegates and

representatives of other non-

government organisations are

also present as observers.

Previous themes for Student

CHOGMs include “The

Commonwealth at 60, Serving a

New Generation”, “Science,

Technology and Society”, “The

Environment - Our Future”, and “Women as Agents of Change”. These topics are adapted

from the Commonwealth Day theme and announced by Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II.

This year’s theme was “Connecting Cultures – Celebrating Our Commonwealth”.

This year, delegates discussed topics across six plenary sessions, as well as participated in a

group discussion around The Queen’s role as Head of the Commonwealth, led by Monarchy

New Zealand Chair, Dr Sean Palmer. Delegates also heard from The Honourable Judith

Collins as she explained her role as Minister for Ethnic Affairs, and what the Office of Ethnic

Affairs does in New Zealand.

In a unique Crisis Session, delegates worked inside the Commonwealth Ministerial Action

Group (CMAG) model to identify a strategy in respect to dealing with a religious conflict

between two fictitious countries.

The following is an account of all these events, and the end resolutions detail how delegates sought to rectify and solve the different problems with which they were faced.

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Delegates vote on issues using their country’s flag. 15

countries were represented at this year’s Meeting.

Plenary Session One

Urgent Debate on Asylum Seekers

elegates were immediately thrown into the deep end when the Student CHOGM

Secretariat called for an urgent debate on asylum seekers travelling to Australia

from Sri Lanka. The chair, recognising the plight of those seeking safe haven in

countries such as Australia and New Zealand stressed the urgency and importance that the

debate must take.

The Australian delegate was the first to

recognise, not only the threat that those

asylum seekers faced, but also the threat

that his country has had to deal with over

the years, in terms of rehabilitating,

housing and educating asylum seekers that

were deemed fit by the Australian

Government to stay in their country.

With this in mind, it was his opinion that

the asylum seekers would be given

medical aid and nourishment but they

would then have to return to their

country of origin. The Malaysian

delegation agreed with this statement;

however the New Zealand, Canadian,

Papua New Guinean and Sri Lankan delegations took a different view; that the refugees should be housed in Australia and neighbouring countries until all necessary action could be

taken to accommodate them in a safer environment than the one from which they had fled.

After robust debate, a resolution was passed, stating that Australia would provide

immediate humanitarian assistance and rescue the refugees, using the Royal Australian Navy.

Australia would then provide temporary asylum until the status of the asylum seekers could

be assessed. If they did not meet certain criteria, they would be returned to Sri Lanka.

Plenary Session Two

The World

rior to the CHOGM,

delegations submitted three

issues each to the Secretariat.

They were asked to condense

these into a one-minute speech and

present their issues in this session.

While presentations were being

made, it fell to delegates to find

commonalities with others and to

start working toward resolutions to

which they could agree.

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Australian Head of Government, Joseph Foster,

addresses the Meeting on the issue of immigration.

Alex Bengree, Joshua Ramsay and Chloe Oldfield chair the

second plenary session. Christian Hermansen acts as a

media observer.

The United Kingdom delegation

noted that their country has

currently been reassessing how it

contributes to the fight against

HIV/AIDS in Africa, especially in

respect to the work being carried

out by the UK Department of

International Development. They

noted that that in order for

nations to pull themselves out of

the depths of recession that they

would have to increase trade and

lower tariffs. Finally, they noted

the changing face of security in the

modern world, citing how well

the London Olympic Games was secured and how imminent

threats were neutralised quickly, if there were any at all.

The delegation from Lesotho put forward its main issues: the county’s high rate of child

labour, and its high rate of HIV/AIDS infection. They argued that as an African country,

Lesotho is lucky to not be facing the problems that a majority of the African countries are;

such as civil unrest and rebellions, political instability, or famine.

Australia proposed that all Commonwealth countries fix their currency, but this was met

with opposition from every other country.

A resolution from Swaziland, proposing that a medical taskforce be set up to teach less well-

off countries how to prevent the spread of HIV/AIDS, was passed, however the amendment

that the United Kingdom, Australia and New Zealand contribute 5% of their GDP to the

initiative failed.

The Maldives pleaded the Commonwealth to invest in sustainable energy. The resolution for

all members to input 0.5% of their GDP to research sustainable energy over the next 10

years was passed unanimously.

Plenary Session Three

The Retreat

odelled on the post-

CHOGM leaders retreat,

delegates were formed

into three groups and

were asked to discuss what the

Commonwealth could do in the

realms of health, sustainable

development and the

preservation of culture.

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Sam Barclay, Swaziland Head of Government, speaks to his

motion that the Commonwealth set up a medical taskforce.

Delegates discuss the issue of sustainable development.

A resolution urged the

development of wide spread

education of health issues, and to

ask Commonwealth members to

aid in the prevention of the

spread of HIV/AIDS, was

unanimously passed. This

resolution, proposed by Malawi,

had a particular focus on rural

areas in Africa.

The CHOGM then discussed the

enrichment and preservation of

culture. The delegates from

Uganda proposed that the

Commonwealth create a fund

which selects young people from different countries and pay for

their exchanges to different

countries. This resolution was passed, along with a resolution that Commonwealth nations

accept different cultures within their societies and to treat them fairly.

Finally, a resolution put forward by The Maldives to implement more efficient research into

water distillation for developing nations was passed. This was to aid in the developing water

shortage occurring in Africa and the Asian region.

Plenary Session Four

Crisis Session

Again, delegates were faced

with a snap debate on an

urgent issue – this time,

religious conflict between

the fictitious countries of

the Kanto Islands and the

Republic of Jhoto. Jhoto had

sent forces into the Kanto

Islands in order to expand

their faith, but under the

false pretence that violent

uprising was about to grip

the country.

Immediately, a motion was

put forward to suspend Jhoto indefinitely from the Commonwealth, however, interestingly,

it was not passed. The rationale behind this was that there should be open and frank

dialogue instead of shutting Jhoto out talks to avoid another situation like the one that

currently exists in Fiji. A peacekeeping force was sanctioned by the Commonwealth in

order to aid those in Kanto, and a resolution was passed, stipulating that Jhoto must

withdraw its troops immediately.

Ugandan Foreign Minister, Seamus Barnett, speaks on the issue

of preservation of culture.

A resolution proposing military force in Kanto was wholly rejected by

the CHOGM.

Plenary Session Five

Electoral Processes and Good Governance

he intention of this plenary session was to come up with ideas around the issue of

good governance in respect to elections, and with a special spotlight on The Maldives

and Papua New Guinea, given their recent internal political struggles.

A resolution detailing that gender and ethnic equality become two of the most important

issues facing the Commonwealth, and that more be done to promote the these issues, was

passed unanimously.

T

Message of Congratulations to

Her Majesty The Queen

May it please Your Majesty.

We, senior high school students of New Zealand, assembled at Parliament

Buildings, Wellington, New Zealand, for the Royal Commonwealth Society’s 31st

annual national Student Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting, would all

like to pass on our sincere congratulations on the occasion of your Diamond Jubilee.

We thank you, not only for your service to the Commonwealth, but also for the

service you have rendered to the people of New Zealand as their Queen. We also

thank you and acknowledge your interest in young people in all Commonwealth

countries and ensuring that our voice is heard.

We also recognise your importance as a figurehead for women as agents of change

and the role you have played in advancing the role of women in leadership positions

across the globe.

We wish you continued good health and all our best wishes go to you and your family in your Diamond Jubilee Year.

Signed,

New Zealand Student CHOGM delegates, Secretariat members and official

observers.

Plenary Session Six

Future Membership of the

Commonwealth

elegates were asked to assess the applications of

Yemen, Sudan, South Sudan, Madagascar and

Algeria to join the Commonwealth.

Delegates were informed of the updated criteria set in

the 2007 Kampala Communiqué that state what an

applicant state must do in order to be considered for

membership. It was noted that Rwanda was admitted to

join the Commonwealth in 2009 after it was deemed to

have fulfilled the criteria.

Delegates ably assessed each country against the six

criteria, and deemed that none of them fulfilled all of the

six criteria. Ergo, they decided to not admit any new

members.

Other events

n the first night of the conference, Minister Dunne

hosted a state dinner in the

Banquet Hall of Parliament. Minister

for Ethnic Affairs, The Honourable

Judith Collins, gave the keynote

address of the CHOGM. In this, she

discussed her work in her portfolio,

and also the great work that the

Office of Ethnic Affairs does all

around New Zealand.

ay two brought with it a

well-loved event – the

annual morning tea with the

Commonwealth diplomatic corps

members. High Commissioners or

representatives posted to New Zealand from those countries represented at the Student

CHOGM were invited to meet their younger counterparts. The British High Commissioner,

Victoria Treadall, Deputy Head of Mission for Malaysia, James Koh and Australian Second

Secretary, Genevieve Beirne were all in attendance. They imparted their wealth of

knowledge and also inspired the students with stories of their encounters and missions in

the field of foreign relations.

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The Head of Government of

Malawi, Brittany Rea, discusses

future Commonwealth

membership.

The British High Commissioner, Her Excellency Mrs Victoria

Treadell, CMG, MVO, meets with members of the Student

CHOGM Secretariat.

ress conferences were held on

both days. Questions were devised

by media delegates, Christian

Hermansen and Brian Anderton, as well

as the Student CHOGM Secretariat,

teachers and observers in the audience.

The questions ranged from asking the

Swazi delegates if they thought their

country was doing enough to combat

HIV/AIDS, to asking the Australian

delegate if his proposal for

Commonwealth countries to fix their

currency would actually contribute to

any decent and worthwhile monetary

reforms.

his year’s Commonwealth Quiz was won by Seamus Barnett of Palmerston North

Boys’ High School. For his effort, he was awarded a House of Representatives neck

tie.

5th Commonwealth Youth Parliament

tudent CHOGM Deputy Director, Chloe

Oldfield, has been selected to represent

New Zealand at the 5th Commonwealth

Youth Parliament in London. Also representing

New Zealand will be Max Harris, a Wellington

based law graduate. This year’s conference is the

fifth time the Parliament has been convened and is

being held in the first week of December.

The main theme of the conference is the issue of

governance. There will also be a celebration of

The Queen’s Diamond Jubilee. Chloe has also

elected to speak on why the report of the Eminent Person’s Group should be adopted by

the Commonwealth.

Commonwealth Youth Parliamentarians will be

lucky enough to debate in both the House of

Commons and the House of Lords for two days.

On the third day, they will form select

committees and hear submissions on an issue that

is yet to be decided.

Chloe will report back to the Student CHOGM

Secretariat when she returns from the UK, and

will present her report at the 32nd Student

CHOGM to be held next year.

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Rhys Judd, New Zealand Head of Government, listens

to debates.

The Honourable Judith Collins MP, Minister for

Ethnic Affairs, delivers her keynote address.