The Third Ecumenical Youth Conference

This early National Film Unit TV production captures young Christians descending on Lower Hutt from around the globe. Kicking off in December 1960, the Third Ecumenical Youth Conference brought 1600 people together to discuss how to unite different strands of Christianity in the space age. As well as tackling disunity in a world where technology was bringing everyone closer together, there was plenty of time for singing and dancing. Broadcaster and future reverend Gavin Yates hosts the film; later he became the Anglican Dean of Nelson. This documentary is one of the oldest surviving Kiwi TV programmes.

We belonged to many different churches and we had to learn to talk about our differences, and about the things we share.

– Reverend Gavin Yates on the diversity present at the Third Ecumenical Youth Conference