Queen's birthday honours: Mayor has spent 40 years working for remote isles

The Mayor of the Chatham Islands, our eastern-most community, has spent 40 years working unstintingly for his adopted homeland.

Yet Patrick Smith, who moved to the Chathams from Christchurch as an 11-year-old, is astonished to be awarded a QSO for public services.

He was "surprised and startled" that islanders thought he was worthy of nomination for such an honour but had heard nothing further until the Herald telephoned yesterday.

"The mail takes seven to nine days to get here," the 63-year-old sheep and cattle farmer explained.

A Justice of the Peace, he has been mayor since 1992 and deputy before that. Other bodies he has served on include the Hospital Liaison Committee, Chatham Islands Enterprise Trust, Te One School Committee and Federated Farmers.

"I'm really just a figurehead," said Mr Smith who, after going away to boarding school, returned to devote himself to the Chathams.

He said the islanders had learned the only way to survive was to make decisions together and work together. "Take care of the land and it will take care of you."

His greatest sadness was the loss of his wife, Wendy, to cancer last August. She was the island's dental nurse for more than 40 years.