Bio / Nate wilbourne

Nate Wilbourne is a New Zealand based youth and environmental advocate, speaker, and changemaker. A 2025 and 2026 Semi-Finalist for Young New Zealander of the Year, Nate is recognised for his work in environmental & youth advocacy and empowerment across the globe.

Growing up in Brightwater, a small rural town located just south of Nelson, Nate Wilbourne was shaped by a tight-knit community and a local school that nurtured his early curiosity for the natural world. Spending his summers at Farewell Spit, he developed a deep connection to conservation, which soon evolved into hands-on involvement with local conservation projects. These early experiences laid the groundwork for his passion for protecting Aotearoa’s landscapes and biodiversity.

At 13, Nate became increasingly active in conservation advocacy, expanding his work into national and youth-led spaces. He went on to found Gen-Z Aotearoa at 15, the home of tomorrow’s leaders, creators, and changemakers in New Zealand. Under his leadership, Gen-Z Aotearoa’s work has reached more than two million people across Aotearoa and around the world, empowering over 500,000 people to engage in civic action from writing submissions and attending protests to taking their first steps into advocacy. He has also been a driving force behind mobilising more than 200,000 rangatahi into collective action for social and environmental change.

At 16, Nate moved to Europe for a year to study at a sustainability-focused, globally minded school in Freiburg, Germany, broadening his understanding of international issues and deepening his commitment to global youth leadership. By sixteen, he had already spoken on world stages in the middle east, at historic palaces in Germany on sustainable agriculture, and to community groups across New Zealand.

Nate is now studying a Bachelor of Laws and Bachelor of Arts, majoring in Development Studies and International Relations at Te Herenga Waka – Victoria University of Wellington. Alongside his studies, he works in political and environmental advocacy, championing the rights of people and the planet across New Zealand and around the world. He has spoken at conferences and events throughout Europe and Asia on youth leadership and sustainability, and is always seeking new ways to contribute, advocate, and create meaningful change.