Our people

Louisa Hareruia Wall (she/her), Women’s Sub-Committee Chair of ILGA Oceania, has an extensive history of championing gender equity and Indigenous SOGIESC rights. Her commitment to ILGA’s mission of promoting equality, freedom, and justice for all remains at the core of her work in the region.

As a former Member of Parliament, Louisa was instrumental in advancing LGBTQIA+ rights, notably through leading the Marriage Amendment Act, which secured marriage equality in New Zealand. She also served as New Zealand’s first Ambassador for Gender Equality (Pacific), where she collaborated closely with Pacific nations, advocating for policies and programmes that support women’s rights, gender diversity, and LGBTQIA+ inclusion. Through this role, Louisa worked to dismantle systemic barriers to gender equity, increase visibility and acceptance of gender-diverse identities, and enhance access to services for all gender identities across the Pacific.

Louisa’s dedication to gender equity is firmly rooted in her intersectional approach. As an advocate for Takatāpui and LGBTQIA+ communities, she works to ensure that Indigenous voices are central to global SOGIESC discussions, bringing attention to the unique challenges faced by gender-diverse people within Indigenous communities. Louisa’s leadership in ILGA Oceania aims to strengthen partnerships, foster solidarity, and promote systemic change across the region.