A message and summary of the Launch Conversation held on 8 September 2026.
Thank you for joining us today as we launched The Generation That Changes the Story, Together.
We began with a question:
What story do we want the next generation to inherit, and what are we prepared to do together to shape it?
Today reminded us why stories matter.
Sue Jameson shared her experience of growing up with gender inequality, finding her voice and purpose through Inner Wheel New Zealand, and creating spaces where women can experience greater belonging, agency and support.
Joe Consedine challenged us to think about privilege, power and allyship. His invitation to understand Ko wai au? Who am I? Ko wai koe? Who are you? Ko wai tātou? Who are we together? reminds us that equity cannot be the responsibility only of those experiencing inequality. Those with power, access and privilege need to be part of changing the systems around them.
Takurua Tamarau Tawera shared a deeply personal story of trauma, identity, violence, addiction, education, recovery and transformation. His work today supporting tāne to take responsibility and change their own stories was a powerful reminder that our past does not have to determine what we pass forward.
Across three very different lives was a common thread:
- What shaped me?
- What have I needed to learn, unlearn or reclaim?
- What responsibility does that create?
- What will I choose to pass forward?
And perhaps most importantly, change is possible.
Now we turn conversation into action
The Generation That Changes the Story, Together is not one campaign or one organisation.
It brings together gender equality, women's voice and economic agency, leadership, healthy relationships, positive masculinity and allyship, education, mental wellbeing and belonging, workplace culture, digital influence, safety and prevention, and the behaviours we model for the generations coming behind us.
UN Women Aotearoa New Zealand can convene, connect and amplify, alongside Inner Wheel New Zealand, White Ribbon New Zealand, weaFV, Mobilise and the many organisations already doing important mahi across these areas.
But what happens next requires all of us.
If you're an individual or whānau, start a conversation at home. Share today's recording. Support the movement. Fundraise. Talk with the young people in your life about equality, relationships, identity, opportunity and the world they want to inherit.
If you're a workplace or organisation, host a Lunch & Learn or internal conversation. Activate your people around International Men's Day, 16 Days of Activism or International Women's Day. Explore becoming a Women's Empowerment Principles signatory. Match employee fundraising. Bring your expertise, research, data, technology, storytelling, networks, people or funding into the movement.
If you're a school or educator, create space for conversations with students, parents and whānau about the influences shaping young people. Explore healthy relationships, belonging, agency, positive masculinity, gender equality, leadership and digital culture. Ask young people themselves what they want their generation to change.
If you're a community, club or network, host a conversation. Bring women and men, young and old together. Share lived experiences. Connect with organisations already doing the mahi. Create a fundraiser or use one of the year's key moments to activate your community.
A year of opportunities to participate
There will be many entry points into the movement. Here are some initial thoughts but certainly not limited to:
19 November | International Men's Day
A moment to engage tāne around identity, positive masculinity, allyship, relationships, fatherhood, leadership and responsibility.
25 November to 10 December | 16 Days of Activism
An opportunity to move further upstream, creating conversations about healthy relationships, respect, safety, prevention, digital influence and the behaviours we model.
8 March | International Women's Day
A moment to explore women's voice, leadership, economic agency, opportunity and the systems and capital shaping our collective future.
And throughout the year we will continue the work through WEPs, research, education, advocacy, storytelling, fundraising, community conversations and partnerships.
Start somewhere
This week we will also open our peer to peer fundraising campaign, giving individuals, workplaces, whānau and communities a practical way to participate.
Create your own page. Set a goal. Tell your story. Invite others to stand alongside you.
And complete one sentence:
For the generation coming behind us, I will...
We will send the link through once the campaign is live.
But participation doesn't have to begin with money.
- Perhaps you can host a conversation.
- Perhaps your organisation has expertise to contribute.
- Perhaps you can introduce us to someone who should be at the table.
- Perhaps you can bring this movement into your school, workplace or community.
- Perhaps you have an idea we haven't thought of yet.
You don't need to do everything. Choose somewhere to start.
If you or your organisation would like to explore how you could participate, partner or bring the movement to life, be sure to connect directly. We would love to continue the conversation.
Thank you again to Sue, Joe and Takurua, to Inner Wheel New Zealand, White Ribbon New Zealand, weaFV and Mobilise and to everyone who joined us today and contributed your thoughts, experiences and messages of hope.
I am part of the change.
I am part of the hope.
Every generation inherits a story. Together, we can change the one we leave behind.
Zoom recording
Passcode: pz#Jr0t7
Canva slides to learn more about the role that you can play
