Rhonda Paku

Rhonda Paku (Ngāti Kahungunu & Tuhoe) spent 10 years at Te Papa Tongarewa, the National Museum of New Zealand, including as Senior Curator of the taonga Māori collection and as Acting Kaihautū where she led international delegations for the negotiation and return of Māori ancestral remains and cultural diplomacy, building relationships with indigenous communities.

As Kaihautū for Stats NZ since 2016, Rhonda shares the strategic direction of the organisation with the executive team and provides critical cultural leadership across the business. The Kaihautū heads Te Tohu Rautaki Angitū Māori, the business group that advocates for and champions the data needs and interests of Tiriti partner, while building capability in cultural transformation for Stats NZ to ensure meaningful engagement in the Māori-Crown relationship – ultimately to deliver far greater outcomes for Māori through data so that Māori can thrive. The ground-breaking Mana Ōrite Relationship Agreement and associated work programme is sponsored by the Kaihautū.