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Chester Borrows

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The Honourable
Chester Borrows
QSO
Member of the New Zealand Parliament
for Whanganui
In office
17 September 2005 (2005-09-17) – 23 September 2017 (2017-09-23)
Preceded byJill Pettis
Succeeded byHarete Hipango
Minister for Courts
In office
12 December 2011 – 6 October 2014
Prime MinisterJohn Key
Preceded byGeorgina te Heuheu
Succeeded byAmy Adams
Personal details
Born
Kerry James Borrows

(1957-06-20) 20 June 1957 (age 67)
Nelson, New Zealand
Political partyNational

Kerry James "Chester" Borrows QSO (born 20 June 1957) is a National Party politician who served as a Member of the New Zealand Parliament (MP) from 2005 to 2017. In July 2018 he was appointed head of the Safe and Effective Justice Advisory Group, which is tasked with helping reform New Zealand's criminal justice system.[1]

Early years

Born in 1957, Borrows was raised in Nelson and was educated at Nayland College.[2] Borrows joined the New Zealand Police and worked in Nelson, Wellington and Auckland before becoming the sole charge officer in Patea.[3] As a police constable, he received a Queen's Commendation for Brave Conduct in 1979, for services in attempting to arrest an armed murderer.[4]

In 2002, Borrows graduated with a Bachelor of Laws from Victoria University of Wellington,[5] and was admitted to the bar. He subsequently worked as a lawyer in Hāwera.[6]

Member of Parliament

New Zealand Parliament
Years Term Electorate List Party
2005–2008 48th Whanganui 33 National
2008–2011 49th Whanganui 42 National
2011–2014 50th Whanganui 32 National
2014–2017 51st Whanganui 22 National

In the 1999 election, Borrows first stood for parliament, in the Whanganui electorate, but he could not unseat the incumbent, Jill Pettis of the Labour Party. Ranked 45th on the party list, he was not high enough to enter parliament.[7] In the 2002 election, Borrows stood again in Whanganui and was ranked 36th on the party list, which was again not high enough to enter parliament.[8] In the 2005 election, Borrows defeated Pettis.

Borrows had proposed an amendment to the Crimes (Abolition of Force as a Justification for Child Discipline) Amendment Bill (now passed into law as the Crimes (Substituted Section 59) Amendment Act 2007) that allowed for the use of force on children providing that is does not "cause or contribute materially to harm that is more than transitory and trifling".[9]

After the 2011 election Borrows was appointed a Minister outside Cabinet for Courts; his appointment being alongside new Ministers outside Cabinet Jo Goodhew and Chris Tremain. He replaced outgoing MP Georgina te Heuheu and also received the associate portfolios of Justice and Social Development.[10]

In the 2014 general election Borrows retained his seat and, upon request from the Prime Minister John Key, moved into the role of Deputy Speaker, replacing Eric Roy who had retired from the role and Parliament.[11] Borrows was granted the style The Honourable for life by the usual convention for outgoing Ministers.[12] Borrows broke ranks with his party in 2017 to openly condemn what he called the "discriminatory" policies of US President Donald Trump, and reiterated his support for Syrian and Muslim refugees.[13]

Borrows did not stand in the 2017 general election.[14] In the 2018 New Year Honours, he was appointed a Companion of the Queen's Service Order for services as a member of parliament.[15]

Political views

Following controversial comments about homosexuals by Australian rugby player Israel Folau in 2018, Borrows identified himself as a liberal Christian, calling the comments "homophobic" and "hateful". Initially opposed to same-sex marriage, he admits his opinions have changed significantly in recent years.[16] After visiting Parihaka in 2018, Borrows argued that there needed to be wider teaching and acknowledgment of New Zealand history, especially regarding historical injustices committed against Māori.[17]

In a 2019 article for The Spinoff news website Borrows condemned National Party leader Simon Bridges' 'tough on crime' approach, saying there was no evidence it would reduce crime rates. He has argued for a more rehabilitative approach which he believes is better supported by evidence.[18]

Personal life

His parents were lifelong socialists.[19] He now lives in Hāwera with his wife, Ella, and they have three children. He is a lay preacher in the Presbyterian Church.[19] In 2007 he had a "stomach-stapling" operation to reduce weight.[20]

In 2017, Borrows was found not guilty of a charge of careless driving causing injury, a charge he faced after he drove over the foot of a protester in Whanganui in 2016. In 2019, Burrows had his driving license suspended for three months, as he had earned 100 demerit points from four speeding tickets over two years. He was later granted a limited driver's licence.[21]

References

  1. ^ "Former National MP Chester Borrows to head justice reform group". The New Zealand Herald. 12 July 2018. Retrieved 29 January 2019.
  2. ^ "MP a former Nelsonian". The Nelson Mail. 19 September 2005. p. 2.
  3. ^ "Whanganui". Taranaki Daily News. 20 July 2002. p. 18.
  4. ^ "No. 47755". The London Gazette. 26 January 1979. p. 1161.
  5. ^ "Roll of graduates". Victoria University of Wellington. Retrieved 6 February 2015.
  6. ^ "Election September 17 '05". Taranaki Daily News. 12 September 2005. p. 2.
  7. ^ "Party Lists of Successful Registered Parties". Electoral Commission. Retrieved 24 March 2017.
  8. ^ "Party Lists of Successful Registered Parties". Electoral Commission. Retrieved 24 March 2017.
  9. ^ "Assessing the Chester Borrow's proposal" (PDF). March 2007. Archived from the original (PDF) on 14 October 2008. Retrieved 25 August 2008.
  10. ^ "Ministerial List for Announcement on 12 December 2011" (PDF). 12 December 2011. Archived from the original (PDF) on 15 August 2016. Retrieved 17 June 2016.
  11. ^ "Borrows not invited to Cabinet table". Wanganui Chronicle. 7 October 2014. Retrieved 29 January 2019.
  12. ^ "Roll of The Honourables". DPMC. Retrieved 22 March 2017.
  13. ^ Burr, Lloyd (8 February 2017). "National MP condemns Trump's ban, but PM won't". Newshub. Retrieved 5 June 2018.
  14. ^ Moir, Jo (29 November 2016). "In hindsight National's Chester Borrows says he "could have had more fights" as an MP". Stuff (company). Retrieved 24 March 2017.
  15. ^ "New Year honours list 2018". Department of the Prime Minister and Cabinet. 30 December 2017. Retrieved 4 January 2018.
  16. ^ Borrows, Chester (18 May 2018). "Chester Borrows: Who will throw the first rock?". Wanganui Chronicle. Whanganui. Retrieved 5 June 2018.
  17. ^ Borrows, Chester (1 June 2018). "Chester Borrows: Learn your history, no matter how unpalatable it might be". Wanganui Chronicle. Retrieved 5 June 2018.
  18. ^ Borrows, Chester (25 November 2019). "'Tough on crime' rhetoric is cheap, easy and terrifyingly effective". The Spinoff. Retrieved 25 November 2019.
  19. ^ a b Braunias, Steve (17 June 2007). "Chester's patch". Sunday Star Times. p. 18.
  20. ^ Palmer, Rebecca (29 December 2007). "How MP took a massive weight off his shoulders". Dominion Post. Retrieved 6 February 2015.
  21. ^ "Former politician in court for limited licence following speeding incidents". Stuff. 7 January 2020. Retrieved 7 January 2020.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: url-status (link)
New Zealand Parliament
Preceded by Member of Parliament for Whanganui
2005–2017 		Succeeded by
Political offices
Preceded by Minister of Courts
2011–2014 		Succeeded by
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