Jeanette Wikaira appointed as Council's new GM of Community

Published on 25 March 2025

A former Thames woman is “coming home” to take on a role as part of the senior leadership team at Thames-Coromandel District Council.

Jeanette Wikaira begins her role as the Council’s new Group Manager Community in late May after five years as part of the executive leadership team at Dunedin City Council.

Wikaira, Ngāti Pukenga, Ngāti Tamaterā, Ngāpuhi, served in Dunedin as General Manager for Arts, Culture and Recreation, plus General Manager of Community Services, and General Manager of Partnerships, Policy and Governance before deciding to return to the Coromandel.

Prior to Wikaira’s local government background, she held senior roles at the University of Otago and Auckland University of Technology and is currently chair of the Hone Tuwhare Charitable Trust, co-chair of the Dunedin Writers and Readers Festival, and a trustee of Manaia Marae. Her academic career spans more than 30 years.

The former student of Thames South School and Thames High School says returning to the Coromandel for the role was a natural step for her.

“My wider whanau have connections throughout Hauraki, I grew up in Thames, my parents live in Manaia – the Coromandel is home. Taking up this role is about returning home to live and work and contribute to the communities that helped raise me” she says.

Wikaira said she has been involved in community development throughout her life and she was looking forward to bringing her experience to the Coromandel.

“For me community-led development and community building is central to the work of any council. We should always have people and supporting communities to thrive at the core of our work,” she says.

In her new role, Wikaira will oversee all community-facing aspects of the Council including Customer Services, Emergency Management, Communications, Parks, Libraries and Facilities.

“There’s a saying that holds true for me, ‘if service is beneath you, then leadership is beyond you’. To me this speaks to the role we all play in serving our communities,” Wikaira says.

Serving others, building interconnectedness, and creating networks of support helps address the broader challenges together, she says.

“I’ve lived and worked in Dunedin for over a decade and it’s a community that will always be close to my heart  … but I always knew there would be a point in my life when I would be coming home.”

Thames-Coromandel District Council chief executive Aileen Lawrie says Wikaira will bring her skills in leading inclusive community engagement to Council's newly restructured Community Group.

"We are fortunate to have such an experienced leader, with a proven track record, join the team and call the Coromandel home," Lawrie says.