"It's time for my family to have a crack at me, instead of everyone else having a crack at me," Mr Smith said yesterday at the board meeting, where he announced his impending retirement.
His decision was influenced by the "knockers" in the community and the impact the role had on his family and business.
Mr Smith (37) has been in office for three terms, and has served as chairman this term.
He is self-employed with an automotive engineering business and said the "knockers" in the community had even picked on how he ran his business.
"They have attempted to attack how I operate it and I will not tolerate being unfairly and wrongly singled out. To this little group [who criticise], I say, it's time you concentrated on being a positive influence in our community, lose the negative attitude and start working with us."
Mr Smith declined to elaborate on how people had criticised his business operation.
Leaders in the community were a "small and precious resource", he said.
"If the community keeps knocking them, we will run out of the very people we need to make the Maniototo a great place to live and bring up children."
The time that was needed for the job, especially as chairman, was of concern.
He spent about half a day a week on board business and Maniototo, like other Central Otago community boards, had a great deal of autonomy and made major decisions on behalf of its residents.
"The remuneration paid does not compensate the time lost. No-one is here to make money out of this position but it shouldn't cost you to be here," Mr Smith said.
He gets about $7500 a year as chairman.
Mr Smith said he was signalling his intention more than a year ahead of the next election so people could give serious thought to who would replace him "and give them a chance and remember the sacrifice they are making for this community".
"It could be perceived that I have packed it in; got the sulks, dropped the lip, etc. Nothing could be further from the truth. I love the challenges that this position brings.
"I have learnt a lot and have worked alongside some great people, but the time resource required to do this job properly is a large commitment."
