Ms Vanisa Dhiru, MNZM, of Wellington, for services to the community and gender rights
Vanisa Dhiru has served as Chief Executive for Volunteering New Zealand, Executive Director for the 20/20 Trust, and National President of the National Council of Women of New Zealand (NCWNZ).
She led NCWNZ’s Gender Equal NZ campaign and Suffrage 125 work programme. She led the NCWNZ delegation at the United Nation’s 70th session of the CEDAW Monitoring Committee.
She has volunteered on charity boards and been a member of various advisory panels. She was a Trustee of Trade Aid Wellington Trust and campaigned to make Wellington a Fairtrade city.
Ms Dhiru is a Commissioner with the New Zealand National Commission for UNESCO and the Library and Information Advisory Commission.