Ministry Statements and Speeches 2007

UNGA 62: Commemorative High Level Plenary meeting devoted to the outcome of the Special Session on Children

Statement by New Zealand Youth Delegate, Te Kerei Moka, 12 December 2007

First and foremost, I would like to acknowledge each and every one of you for participating and assisting to endeavour to make this world a beautiful and better place.

Kia ora, my name is Te Kerei Moka from New Zealand, and I am one of seven children. My mother is blind and my father is in prison. Since a child I have had no time to kick a ball around or swing on a swing, let alone live a normal life. However, I am proud of my accomplishments. I have done the best I can do to make my family be happy and safe. Being the only male in my family I had to grow up at an early age to understand the rules of life and the obligations I faced at that time.

This being so, I have had the chance to observe and take in the life skills from another angle. As time went on, I was in a position to make a difference within my realm. Now that I stand here before you all, I have grown up and learnt a lot to partake in such an event like this as well as bringing what I can to share with you all.

I feel that we as a people of the world are in a situation where we are slowly making progress in changing the way we see things. For instance, Education is a primary example; I feel that we need to keep our thinking caps on in creating strategies to make sure children can succeed in education by giving the right tools, the right funding as well as the professional support so that more students can attend school. Now I know there are a lot of other obligations we face that affect the possibility of making this happen, but I also feel that if we take it step by step, and day by day, one way or the other, we will prevail……. Like I say, good things do take time……but hopefully not that long.

So to all my younger brothers and sisters, its time to stand staunch and proud of who you are and who you represent. Educate yourselves in ways you thought you could never think of. Make contacts, establish goals within and endeavour to make the world around you a happier one. So reach for that highest peak and you shall seek. If you want it, take it. Don’t you dare let anyone else tell you otherwise. Because at the end of the day, nothing is impossible.

Ma te atua e tiakina I a koutou katoa mo ake tonu atu.

Te Kerei Moka

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