New Zealand Government NGO Delegate for CSW70 announced: Tufuga Rhia Taonui

Manatū Wāhine Ministry for Women congratulates Tufuga Rhia Taonui who has been selected to join the official New Zealand Government delegation as the non-governmental delegate to the seventieth session of the Commission on the Status of Women (CSW70) from 9 to 19 March 2026, New York, USA.

The Commission on the Status of Women is the highest-level annual international forum on gender equality and women's empowerment.

The priority theme for CSW70 is strengthening women's access to justice. The session will also review the commitments made at CSW65 on supporting women's leadership and eliminating violence against women.

The NGO delegate is an important member of the delegation and will be involved in:

• acting as a liaison point between New Zealand-based NGOs and the Government delegation
• sharing NGO perspectives with the Government delegation on opportunities and challenges for New Zealand women and girls in relation to the session and its themes
• supporting New Zealand-based NGOs (both in New York and in New Zealand) to stay connected in the lead up to and during CSW70.

Applications were assessed by an independent selection panel comprising representatives from the International Women's Caucus

• Aleisha Amohia - National Council of Women of New Zealand (NGO delegate for CSW68)
• Bal Devgun - Wellington Indian Association 
• Christine King - Aotearoa Women's Watch (NZ) (formerly Pacific Women's Watch New Zealand)
• Dellwyn Stuart
• Denise Ewe - Māori Women's Welfare League 
• Kirby-Lee Ormond - YWCA Aotearoa New Zealand
• Raelene McMullan - Soroptimist International of Aotearoa New Zealand
• Repeka Lelaulu - P.A.C.I.F.I.C.A Inc. 
• Shasha Ali - Shakti Women's Refuge Trust
• Shirley Gillett - Graduate Women New Zealand
• Tara Singh - UN Women Aotearoa New Zealand

Thank you to our independent panel for your hard work in reviewing and selecting the NGO delegate and supporting New Zealand's participation in CSW70.

About Rhia Taonui

Rhia is a skilled, compassionate, and dedicated Pasifika wāhine who has consistently placed improving outcomes for women, children and marginalised communities at the heart of her work.

Rhia is currently the Chief Executive of Jigsaw Whanganui, an early prevention social services improving safety, wellbeing and kaupapa whānau, while committing her time as an accredited Justice of the Peace.

In her role as Chief Executive, Rhia leads multi-disciplinary teams, works closely with iwi, Pacific and ethnic communities, and participates in government and local multi-agency responses addressing family harm and complex whānau needs.

Rhia has also been involved in a range of community organisations, including Youth Nu'u Trust, Niuvaka Trust, Women's Refuge Manawatū, Regional Pacific Partnership Trust and is a founding member of the P.A.C.I.F.I.C.A Inc branch Women's Collective Manawatū. She has been a contributor for the United Nations, where she endorsed the elimination of violence against women, children and pay equity.

In her own time, you can find Rhia enjoying a good book, going out for walks and sighting out a weekend market.

Contact us

If you have any questions about CSW, or your organisation would like to be added to the contact list of organisations wanting to be contacted regarding CSW, email [email protected].