He Tangata

Dr Bill Robertson
Rakiura Ngāi Tahu, Irish, Scottish

Porirua-based surveyor Dr Bill Robertson received an Order of New Zealand Merit this year for his services to surveying. He was born in Temuka in 1937 but brought up on a backcountry farm on the north bank of the Wairau River in Marlborough. During his early career, he spent much of his time working in Central Otago on projects such as the Benmore Dam, farm settlements and mapping. In the 1960s, he shifted to the North Island and in 1987 became the Director General/Surveyor General of the Department of Survey and Land Information.

Since retiring in 1996, his services have been sought by the United Nations and the World Bank on land administration. He was appointed as Special Consultant to the Eritrea/Ethiopia Boundary Commission, Senior Consultant to the Cameroon-Nigeria Mixed Boundary Commission and as expert to the Sudan Boundary Tribunal this year. He was an expert member of the Iraq/Kuwait Boundary Demarcation Commission from 1991 to 1994.

Bill and his wife Judy have four sons, seven grandchildren and 12 greatgrandchildren. His whakapapa links to Ngāi Tahu are from his paternal grandmother Sarah Robertson (née Sherburd) who was the greatgranddaughter of Te Makahi. His tāua was born on Te Wehi a Te Wera, also known as the Neck on Rakiura (Stewart Island).

WHAT CONSTITUTES A GOOD DAY?

Spending time with my wife and family.

WHAT NEW ZEALANDER DO YOU MOST ADMIRE? WHY?

Sir Edmund Hillary because of his major achievements and his outspoken support and efforts for fairness.

WHAT COULD YOU NOT LIVE WITHOUT?

Email.

IF YOU COULD LIVE ANYWHERE, WHERE WOULD IT BE?

Porirua, which is a New Zealand/Pacific city rich in diversity, fraternity, talent and culture.

WHO IS THE MOST IMPORTANT PERSON IN YOUR LIFE?

My wife Judy, who has been my constant support for 53 years and has ennobled my life.

WHAT IS YOUR FAVOURITE SONG?

Pokarekare ana.

ON WHAT OCCASION DO YOU TELL A LIE?

Where the issue is minor but the answer would greatly distress the listener.

WHAT CONSTITUTES A BAD DAY?

A loss by the All Blacks in a World Cup match.

WHAT IS YOUR GREATEST FEAR?

That affluent people will continue to ignore the injustice meted out to the underprivileged people and their children in this world.

DO YOU HAVE A FAVOURITE SUPERHERO?

Alexander the Great for his unparalleled courage and achievements. Even an ambitious Julius Caesar would weep at his statue because he knew he could not achieve more.

WHO WOULD YOU BE AND WHY?

Spiderman so I would never have to worry about fire in high-rise hotel rooms.

WHAT IS YOUR WORST CHARACTER FLAW?

Procrastination, but I will tell you about that later.

WHICH TALENT WOULD YOU MOST LIKE TO HAVE?

To be able to speak many languages.

WHAT'S YOUR FAVOURITE CHILDHOOD MEMORY?

Visits to my grandparents in Temuka.

WHAT COUNTRY WOULD YOU MOST LIKE TO VISIT?

Ireland and Scotland, to visit where my parents' families came from and Belgium to visit my uncle's grave.

DO YOU BUY LOTTO?

No.

WHAT WOULD YOU DO IF YOU WON LOTTO?

Be completely gobsmacked.

SHORTLAND STREET OR THE NEWS?

The news.

DO YOU BELIEVE IN REINCARNATION?

No.

EVEN IF YOU DON'T, WHAT WOULD YOU COME BACK AS IF YOU COULD?

Good King Wenceslas.

WHAT IS THE BEST GIFT YOU'VE EVER RECEIVED?

My sons' purchase of an airfare on my 70th birthday so my brother and sister-in-law could visit us from Perth.

WHAT IS YOUR GREATEST EXTRAVAGANCE?

Having satellite navigation in my car.

FAVOURITE WAY TO CHILL OUT?

Watching a good comedy on DVD.

LOVE OR MONEY?

Love because it is enduring.

WHAT IS YOUR MOST ADMIRABLE QUALITY?

Adaptability.

DANCE OR WALLFLOWER?

Dance.

WHAT IS THE LAST BOOK YOU READ?

The Great War for Civilisation, by Robert Fisk.

WHO IS YOUR FAVOURITE AUTHOR?

My favourite authors have changed over the decades. Now I favour authors who research and present their facts well and fairly and fiction writers who research their context well.

IF YOU HAD TO WATCH SPORT ON TELEVISION, WHAT WOULD IT BE?

Any representative New Zealand team playing rugby.

WHAT IS YOUR GREATEST ACHIEVEMENT?

Maturation.

WHAT FOOD COULD YOU NOT LIVE WITHOUT?

Ice cream.

WHAT MEAL DO YOU COOK THE MOST?

Toast.

HOW MANY PAIRS OF SHOES DO YOU OWN?

Twenty.

WHAT'S YOUR BIGGEST REGRET?

Time wasted.

WHAT'S YOUR FAVOURITE PLACE IN NEW ZEALAND?

The Marlborough Sounds.