In April 2007 OPTU took a 'next step' in the Ministry for a Culture of Peace initiative by contacting schools within the Wanganui region, community groups and local branches of different NGOs as well as the District Council, asking for their thoughts and suggestions on each of the five points in OPTU's proposal for a New Zealand Ministry for a Culture of Peace.

The Wanganui District Youth Council was among those contacted, and Youth Councilors, together with teachers and students from local schools, as well as members of the local branch of the UN Association of New Zealand (UNANZ) have formed a small committee to stimulate interest in the proposal. Download the letter of invitation here.

Together with this committee OPTU is currently raising funds for giving at least one Wanganui Youth the opportunity to attend the 2007 DPI/NGO Annual Conference in New York.

A public meeting, took place in Wellington, Saturday 21st July, jointly hosted by the Peace Foundation, UNANZ and OPTU to 'organise the New Zealand campaign for a Ministry of Peace and our representation and input into the Global Alliance'. Further details on this meeting and its outcome are available here.