Tribute to Dr Janet O’Connor
Written by Therese Mangos
Dr Janet O’Connor involved in her community.
I first met Janet through the Pacifica Arts Centre, and from the very beginning her warmth, humour, and commitment to community shone through. In those early days, it was both Janet and Charles Enoka who stood as strong Kiribati community leaders in West Auckland — guiding and supporting their people with heart and vision.
Our first outing together in April 2017 was to the Zero Waste Zone at the Waitākere Transfer Station — because for Janet, “talking rubbish” was really about caring for creation. From there, many beautiful collaborations followed.
We ran composting workshops at the Rānui Community Garden, which later inspired the West Auckland Kiribati Association to establish their own plot. Janet believed that tending the soil was just another way of tending the spirit — and she knew that reconnecting to our cultural and ancestral practices could help our communities flourish.
Together we ran workshops on recycling, creative reuse, and making the most of leftovers — always practical, hands-on, and full of laughter. Her background in nutrition added depth to this work, as she used food to bring people together — like the community meals she lovingly prepared from their garden harvests.
Even during Covid, when the gardens were closed, Janet’s generous spirit didn’t fade. She shared seeds, seedlings, and stories from her home in Upper Harbour — ever patient, ever giving. She continued her service through the Save Kiribati Movement, working on climate change projects in Kiribati — from plastic recycling to growing kai — bridging her homeland and her adopted community with care and purpose.
Our last gathering was in January 2024, when Janet invited me to share at the Kiribati Uniting Church Society in Waiuku. It was so very “Janet” — hands-on, joyful, filled with compost, laughter, and community.
It has been a true honour to walk alongside Janet — a woman of wisdom, humour, and unwavering love for her culture and her people. She was a champion for creation, for Kiribati, and for the wellbeing of all who crossed her path.
Meitaki ma‘ata, Janet — thank you for opening the door to us, for your generosity of spirit, and for the good laughs. Rest peacefully, dear friend.
Therese Mangos