Gen-Z Aotearoa Co-Directors Recognised as Semi-Finalists for Young New Zealander of the Year

Black and white photo of a young woman and a young man sitting together, smiling at the camera, both wearing black t-shirts with white text.

Image: Lola Fisher (left) and Nate Wilbourne (right), credit: Jo Currie

Gen-Z Aotearoa is proud to announce that two of its Co-Directors, Nate Wilbourne and Lola Fisher, have been recognised as Semi-Finalists for Young New Zealander of the Year in the 2025 Kiwibank New Zealander of the Year Awards.

This recognition celebrates the leadership, impact, and dedication both Nate and Lola have brought to empowering young people across Aotearoa to take action for their communities, democracy, and the planet.

About Gen-Z Aotearoa

Gen-Z Aotearoa was founded in early January 2024 by Nate Wilbourne with the vision of creating a platform that empowers young people to use their voices, engage in democracy, and drive positive change in their communities. Shortly after its founding, Lola Fisher joined the organisation, playing a key role in shaping its direction, strengthening its reach, and supporting its growth.

Nate directed Gen-Z Aotearoa until August 2024, at which point he did not step away from the organisation, but instead expanded its leadership by bringing Lola Fisher and Bella Ngawhika on as Co-Directors. Since transitioning to a shared leadership model, the three Co-Directors have worked collaboratively to grow Gen-Z Aotearoa’s impact, values, and national presence.

Since its founding, Gen-Z Aotearoa has reached over 2 million people, and has worked with 30+ organisations within New Zealand to empower young people to engage with issues that matter to them and take action in their communities.

Nate Wilbourne – Co-Director, Gen-Z Aotearoa

As Founder and Co-Director of Gen-Z Aotearoa, Nate Wilbourne has been part of the driving force behind empowering thousands of people across Aotearoa New Zealand and internationally to get involved in their communities and participate in democratic processes.

Between July 2024 and July 2025, Nate’s work includes:

  • Helping lead and market the March for Nature in Auckland (8 June 2024), contributing to a movement that empowered 27,000 people to submit against the Fast-track Approvals Act.

  • Keynote speaking at New Zealand’s largest youth climate conference, The Climate Action Conference (27 July 2024), on mobilising people through social media.

  • Keynote speaking at Europe’s largest youth climate conference, LCOY Berlin (26 October 2024), on social media advocacy.

  • Speaking to over 2,000 students (a further 10,000 between May - July 2024) across New Zealand, empowering young people to follow their passions and take action locally.

  • Participating in global Fridays for Future climate strikes in Freiburg, Germany, on 20 September 2024 and 14 February 2025.

  • Speaking at a World Food Day event at Hohenheim Palace (16 October 2024) on youth-led climate action in agriculture.

  • Collaborating with international legal experts at the New Institute in Hamburg during a Mobilising Earth Governance Alliance (MEGA) congress (9 April 2025), contributing to policy solutions to the planetary emergency.

  • Serving as a Youth MP (30 June – 2 July 2025), delivering a speech on the war on nature that reached over 110,000 people across New Zealand.

  • Being commissioned by Fairtrade Australia New Zealand and the Global Covenant of Mayors for Climate & Energy to deliver campaigns on sustainable consumption and climate finance.

  • Keynote speaking at a United Nations Convention to Combat Desertification (UNCCD) event, “The Future of Land Is Listening” (17 November 2025), highlighting how young people in Aotearoa are protecting and restoring nature.

Nate’s work through Gen-Z Aotearoa and beyond reflects a deep commitment to youth leadership, environmental protection, and democratic participation.

Lola Fisher – Co-Director, Gen-Z Aotearoa

Lola Fisher is an award-winning youth advocate, speaker, and youth engagement advisor, who works in youth media, movement building, and creating sustainable, youth-led systems across Aotearoa. As Co-Director of Gen-Z Aotearoa, alongside her other work spanning media, research, speaking, and sector-building, she has a strong focus on ensuring rangatahi are accurately represented, resourced, and supported to lead.

Key achievements include:

  • In 2021 at just 13 years old, co-founded Create Happy Media, which has since grown into Aotearoa’s largest youth-run media outlet.

  • Led and supported the publication of 450+ youth-written articles, fostering positive and authentic storytelling by rangatahi.

  • Helped train and mentor 120 young journalists, many of whom have gone on to careers in journalism, communications, videography, and the wider media sector.

  • Commissioned and supported research in 2022 that found 83% of headlines about young people in Aotearoa were negative, shaping national conversations around youth representation in the media.

  • Delivered a TEDx Talk in 2024 on youth media representation and the power of youth-led storytelling.

  • Contributed thousands of hours of unpaid voluntary work to youth organising and sector development since 2022.

  • Worked with more than 50 organisations across the Asia-Pacific, including child rights NGOs, government partners, diplomatic missions, and major technology companies.

  • Spoke on a panel at INVOLVE, Ara Taiohi’s national youth development conference, contributing to discussions on youth voice, participation, and strengthening the youth sector.

  • Recognised internationally with the Young Courage Award, presented in Stockholm, Sweden, for her leadership and advocacy.

Gen-Z Aotearoa is incredibly proud to see both Nate and Lola recognised at a national level. This recognition is not just a celebration of two individuals, but of the thousands of young people across Aotearoa who are stepping up, speaking out, and shaping the future.

For media enquiries:
Gen-Z Aotearoa
team@genzaotearoa.org