Jack O'Connor, Sport Canterbury's West Coast Manager, is a true community champion with a passion for making a difference. With 15 years of unwavering commitment to Sport Canterbury (soon to be 16), Jack's journey has been marked by his desire to give back, and a deep-rooted connection to the West Coast community.

Jack's path to Sport Canterbury was serendipitous. While working at Mico Plumbing, he was shoulder tapped to fill a vacancy at Sport Canterbury, a role that he embraced wholeheartedly.

“The role had flexibility and I could not only make a difference in the community, but also see my kids sport.”

In the early years, Jack was involved in programme delivery and community engagement. He worked closely with everyone, from 5-year-olds to educators, gathering feedback and fostering connections.

Today, Sport Canterbury's direction has evolved, emphasising advocacy, strategy, and empowerment. While Jack is no longer immersed in programme delivery, his commitment to the community remains resolute. In fact, he's taken his dedication to the next level by serving on the local council, a testament to his deep ties to the region.

“I'm at that stage of life where I was actually looking for a new challenge, so, I stood last October.”

Politics is a family affair for Jack, with brother Greg currently serving as deputy speaker of the house in the Labour government, and his father making a mark on West Coast politics in the '70s. Jack's multifaceted involvement extends beyond his professional and political roles. He's still an active participant in sports, playing hockey at representative and senior club levels, coaching, administering, and even stepping into the role of a goalie when needed.

This was highlighted recently when, with son, Ryan he was part of the Hokitika Premier Men’s team lifting the Burnett White trophy for the first time in his Hokitika club’s in 114 years.

“While I've gone from a striker back to a goalie, but the move to goalie was just filling a gap that needed to be filled. And despite less fitness being required, I still seem to get a hell of a workout.”

Additionally, he serves as vice president of West Coast hockey, lending support to young leaders in the organization. He also holds the position of President of the Greymouth Athletic Club, where he continues to compete in Masters events. A younger version of himself was ranked number one in New Zealand for 400-metre hurdles and 800 metres. Although a gold medal and national title eluded him due to food poisoning on the day of the event and he never actually competed.

“I do feel a little cheated, as I ran 2-seconds faster than the next best in New Zealand that year.” But there’s no guarantees in sport so you take the highs and the lows and live with it.

As Jack approaches his 60th birthday, he shows no signs of slowing down. His dedication to the region extends to his Runanga community, where he's played a pivotal role in local initiatives - helping to establish a food bank and health clinic and, a particular favourite, the "Weekend Warriors" programme, aimed at revitalising neglected properties for the benefit of all.

“We take a before and after photo, and you think, wow, if everybody did a little bit more, she'd be a better society.”

When asked to describe himself, Jack says he’s as a family man and a community person with a simple mantra in life, "If it needs doing, it needs doing."

He met wife Lynnette through athletics, they had the same coach. Lynnette attended the 1984 Olympics and the World Championships in Tokyo, 1991. Their three children never showed an interest for athletics, “we ended up with hockey players, kayakers and netballers,” he says with a smile.

Looking ahead, Jack's focus is on supporting his community while aligning with Sport Canterbury and Sport New Zealand's strategic initiatives. He emphasizes the importance of staying true to local perspectives and voices in the ever-evolving sports landscape.

Jack's approachability shines through on his Saturday morning radio show on Coast FM, which he's hosted for over a decade. The show not only covers sports but also serves as a platform to highlight local events, Sport Canterbury courses, and to address critical topics such as sideline behaviour and the "balance is better" philosophy.

Jack O’Connor is not just a dedicated manager but a true community champion, whose passion for sport and an unwavering commitment to the West Coast make him an invaluable asset to both the organisation and the region.