Governor of Pitcairn facts for kids

Flag of the governor of Pitcairn

The Governor of Pitcairn is a special representative of the British King or Queen in the Pitcairn Islands. These islands are the last remaining British Overseas Territory in the Pacific Ocean. Even though the Governor has authority, the people of Pitcairn have a lot of say in how their island is run.

The Pitcairn Islands have a very small population. Because of this, the British government never felt it was necessary to have a Governor living on the island. Instead, the Governor of Fiji also served as the Governor of Pitcairn starting in 1898. When Fiji became an independent country in 1970, the role of Pitcairn's Governor was given to the British High Commissioner to New Zealand. The person holding this important job right now is Iona Thomas.

Historically, the British Governor rarely needed to use their full power over the island. One rare time this happened was when Governor Richard Fell removed Mayor Steve Christian from his position. This happened after the mayor was found guilty of serious wrongdoing in 2004.

Understanding the Governor's Role

What Does a Governor Do?

A Governor acts as a link between the Pitcairn Islands and the government of the United Kingdom. They make sure that British laws and policies are followed, but they also respect the local decisions made by the islanders. It's a bit like having a special ambassador who also has some authority.

Why is the Governor in New Zealand?

Since Pitcairn is so small and remote, it makes sense for the Governor to be based in a larger, nearby country. New Zealand is a close neighbor, and the British High Commissioner there already works on important matters for the UK in the region. This arrangement helps manage the islands efficiently without needing a full-time Governor living on Pitcairn.

Governors of Pitcairn Since 1970

This table shows the people who have served as Governor of Pitcairn since 1970, when the role was transferred to the British High Commissioner in New Zealand.

Pitcairn Islands
No.	Name (Birth–Death)	Title	Portrait	Time in Office		Notes	Monarch
				From	Until
1	Sir Arthur Norman Galsworthy (1916-1986)	Governor of Pitcairn		October 1970	January 1973		Elizabeth II
2	Sir David Aubrey Scott (1919–2010)	Governor of Pitcairn		January 1973	1975
3	Sir Harold Smedley (1920–2004)	Governor of Pitcairn		February 1976	1980
4	Richard Stratton (?–?)	Governor of Pitcairn		September 1980	1984
5	Terence Daniel O'Leary (1928–2006)	Governor of Pitcairn		July 1984	1987
6	Robin Byatt (1930–2019)	Governor of Pitcairn		December 1987	1990
7	David Moss (born 1938)	Governor of Pitcairn		September 1990	1994
8	Robert John Alston (born 1938)	Governor of Pitcairn		August 1994	10 February 1998
9	Martin Williams (born 1941)	Governor of Pitcairn		April 1998	2001
10	Richard Fell (born 1948)	Governor of Pitcairn		10 December 2001	April 2006
11	George Fergusson (born 1955)	Governor of Pitcairn		2 May 2006	18 May 2010
–	Mike Cherrett (?–?)	Acting Governor of Pitcairn		19 May 2010	3 June 2010
12	Victoria "Vicki" Treadell (born 1959)	Governor of Pitcairn		3 June 2010	July 2014
13	Jonathan Sinclair (born 1970)	Governor of Pitcairn		15 August 2014	9 December 2017
–	Robin Shackell (?–?)	Acting Governor of Pitcairn		9 December 2017	25 January 2018
14	Laura Clarke (born 1978)	Governor of Pitcairn		25 January 2018	7 July 2022
15	Iona Thomas	Governor of Pitcairn		9 August 2022	Incumbent
							Charles III

More About Pitcairn's Leaders

• List of rulers of the Pitcairn Islands, for local leaders of the island since 1790.
• List of governors of Fiji, for those who were also Pitcairn's Governor from 1898 to 1970.
• List of high commissioners of the United Kingdom to New Zealand, for the Governors since 1970.