Caroline Rain

Caroline is an experienced senior leader with a strong commitment to parks, open spaces, and the role they play in supporting healthy communities, thriving ecosystems, and meaningful visitor experiences. Based in Invercargill as the Manager for Parks and Recreation for Invercargill City Council, she brings a strategic, region‑wide perspective to the planning and management of public places, ensuring they are safe, accessible, and valued by both locals and visitors.

In her current role, Caroline is responsible for translating organisational strategy into clear, prioritised work programmes that guide the delivery, maintenance, and enhancement of parks, recreational assets, and visitor infrastructure across a diverse urban geographic area. She leads teams specialising in planning, asset management, monitoring and reporting, and visitor and staff safety, ensuring that operational  investment decisions support long‑term sustainability as well as day‑to‑day community use.

Caroline has a particular strength in connecting big‑picture thinking with practical delivery. She works closely with operational teams, stakeholders, and partners to balance competing demands — from environmental protection and climate resilience to recreational access and community wellbeing. Relationship‑building is central to her approach, and she values collaborative partnerships with staff, unions, local authorities, mana whenua, and national organisations.

With a background spanning public service, healthcare leadership, and the commercial sector, Caroline brings a strong understanding of financial stewardship, organisational performance, and people management. She is known for her calm, kind and thoughtful leadership style and her ability to navigate complex environments while keeping communities and frontline staff at the centre of decision‑making.

Outside work, Caroline enjoys exploring New Zealand’s landscapes by bike and on foot, spending time with her family, and being actively involved in dog training and agility. She is an NZKC Judge and appreciates the strong connection between well‑designed open spaces and everyday quality of life.