Author | Historian | Journalist
Written works
Tom wrote a weekly political commentary column and a history column for the Waikato Times. He also wrote a political commentary for the Taranaki Daily News which focussed on the New Zealand Land Wars.
His published works include:
Death of a Cruise Ship, the story the Mikhail Lermontov sinking in the Marlborough Sounds in 1986.
Historical fiction novels on the life of Te Rauparaha titled Tides of Kawhia, Pathways of Taranaki and Shadows of Kapiti. These have recently been republished.
Bunty Preece, soldier of 28 (Maori) Battalion,
The Ferret, Sergeant Eric Batchelor DCM and bar, m.i.d. A highly decorated NZ WWII solider.
Irish Convict, historicial fiction novel based on true stories in Australia and New Zealand prior to 1840. A sequel is currently being written.
Our Darkest Day: The 2019 Mosque attacks in Christchurch, Non-Fiction account of a pivotal moment in NZ History along with the reaction and changes in the following 12 months.
At Home
Tom currently lives in St Andrews of South Canterbury where he has served as a Councillor at the Waimate District Council for several terms. Originally from Kawhia as a child, Tom has also lived in the Manawatu-Whanganui region and the Waikato region and Wairau in the upper South Island. His knowledge in Maori history has come from the local Maori communities, and places in these regions across New Zealand.
Awards
In 2019, Tom O’Connor was made a Member of the New Zealand order of Merit 2018 for services to seniors, local government and journalism. Tom O’Connor is a Justice of the Peace serving his local South Canterbury community. Tom is a former president of the New Zealand Grey Power Association. Tom served on acclimatisation societies and several regional fish and game councils for more than forty years. In that time he was a member of the New Zealand Fish and Game Council and represented the Director General of Conservation.
