Mary Moeono-Kolio

Fighting for climate justice and representing Aotearoa on the world stage with the Pacific Climate Warriors.

Mary is part of the global community fighting for climate justice, and has represented Aotearoa and the Pacific at various international summits including United Nations Climate Summits and One Young World.

Mary won The Impact Award for Climate in 2021, which recognised her advocacy and leadership fighting for climate justice. She was the Co-Lead for the Pacific Climate Warriors, and co-hosted the 2019 Wellington Climate Strike leading a 40,000 person march to the New Zealand Parliament.

Mary holds a Master of Arts with Honours in Criminology from the University of Auckland, where her research explored Restorative justice as a culturally appropriate approach for dealing with violent offending in New Zealand. In her day job, Mary works at the Ministry for Education on Pacific engagement across secondary and tertiary education. As an advocate for educational equity and climate justice, Mary believes a restorative justice approach must underpin the Climate Conversation. She advocates that young people have the energy, passion, and the courage to be the innovative and compassionate thinkers that will change the world.