The Honourable
Chester Borrows
QSO
Member of the New Zealand Parliament
for Whanganui
In office
17 September 2005 – 23 September 2017
Preceded byJill Pettis
Succeeded byHarete Hipango
Deputy Speaker of the New Zealand House of Representatives
In office
21 October 2014 – 23 September 2017
Preceded byEric Roy
Succeeded byAnne Tolley
7th 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
Nelson, New Zealand
Died27 February 2023(2023-02-27) (aged 65)
Hāwera, New Zealand
Political partyNational

Kerry James "Chester" Borrows QSO (20 June 1957 – 27 February 2023) was a New Zealand National Party politician who served as a Member of the New Zealand Parliament (MP) from 2005 to 2017.

Borrows worked as a police officer, including as a sole charge officer, and received a Queen's Commendation for Brave Conduct for attempting to arrest an armed murderer. He first stood for Parliament in 1999, and was elected in 2005. He was a Minister outside Cabinet for three years, and was Deputy Speaker also for three years. He did not run for Parliament in 2017.

Borrows served as head of the Safe and Effective Justice Advisory Group, tasked with helping reform New Zealand's criminal justice system. He also served as an archdeacon in the Anglican Church.

Early years

Born in 1957, Borrows was raised in Nelson and was educated at Nayland College.[1] Borrows joined the New Zealand Police and worked in Nelson, Wellington and Auckland before becoming the sole charge officer in Patea.[2] As a police constable, he received a Queen's Commendation for Brave Conduct in 1978, for services in attempting to arrest an armed murderer.[3][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

Borrows joined the National Party in 1987, having previously been a Labour supporter.[7] He first stood for Parliament in the 1999 election, 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.[8][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.[9] In the 2005 election, Borrows won the Whanganui electorate, defeating Pettis 15,846 electorate votes to 13,444.[10] Borrows would go on to win the electorate in 2008, 2011, and 2014.[11][12][13]

After the 2011 election Borrows was appointed a Minister outside Cabinet for Courts. He also received the associate portfolios of Justice and Social Development.[14] He held these roles until 2014.[15] After losing his ministerial role, Borrows increasingly spoke out, including against his own party. He publicly disagreed with Corrections Minister Judith Collins about her decision to stand down a gang member from his mentor work in prison. The gang member, Ngapari Nui, was a personal friend of Borrows and Collins suggested that was getting in the way of his judgement.[16]

After the 2014 general election Borrows moved into the role of Deputy Speaker, replacing Eric Roy who had retired from the role and Parliament.[17] Borrows was granted the style The Honourable for life by the usual convention for outgoing Ministers.[18] 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.[19]

Throughout his time in Parliament, Borrows was a member of eight select committees, including being the chair of the Justice and Electoral committee for three years.[15] Borrows did not stand in the 2017 general election. According to Borrows in 2017, it was always his intention to serve only four terms.[16] In the 2018 New Year Honours, he was appointed a Companion of the Queen's Service Order for services as a member of parliament.[20]

Career after Parliament

In 2018, Borrows was appointed head of the Safe and Effective Justice Advisory Group, which is tasked with helping reform New Zealand's criminal justice system.[21] By June 2020 he was no longer in this role.[22] As of 2021, Borrows was an archdeacon for the Anglican Church. His work included assisting with a restoration of St Mary's Anglican Church in Hāwera. The building closed in 2016 as it was an earthquake risk.[23]

Political views

Justice

Borrows was described in 2017 as having a "smart on crime" approach that was "at odds with those on the Right-leaning side of the House who subscribe to the 'tough on crime' school of thought."[7] Borrows voted for the Crimes (Substituted Section 59) Amendment Act 2007), as did all National MPs.[24] The Act removed the legal defence of "reasonable force" for parents prosecuted for assault on their children. Borrows proposed an amendment which would have legalised the use of force on children providing that it did not "cause or contribute materially to harm that is more than transitory and trifling", involve any weapon, tool or other implement, and was not "cruel, degrading, or terrifying".[25] It was voted against by Parliament 63–58.[26] According to Borrows, he convinced then Justice Minister Simon Power in 2008 to "take DNA off everybody arrested in the same way we can take fingerprints and photographs without having to go off and get a warrant." Borrows said in 2016 that this was what he was most proud of in his time in Parliament, saying, "that single thing's probably prevented more victims than anything we've done."[16] Also in 2008, Borrows helped to create youth justice reforms.[16]

In a 2019 article for The Spinoff news website Borrows condemned then-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 believed is better supported by evidence.[27] In 2020 he publicly called for police to be equipped with body cameras, saying that they would speed up investigations and that they would provide context where police action was videoed by the public.[22] In June 2022, Borrows criticised the National Party's proposal to ban gang patches, saying that it was "ineffectual" and was designed to attract "big headlines." He also cited the failure of previous anti-gang patch legislation which he had introduced into Parliament as a National cabinet minister and MP.[28] In November 2022, Borrows criticised National Party leader Christopher Luxon's proposal to introduce electronic monitoring and boot camps for young offenders, arguing that better "social supports" were better solutions to addressing youth crime. Regarding youth crime, Borrows stated "I hope that we get past cliches and billboards and actually talk about the actions we need to take in a very precise manner, and how we can ensure that kids don't go down this track."[29]

LGBT rights

Borrows voted against the Marriage (Definition of Marriage) Amendment Act of 2013 at all three readings.[30] The bill allowed for marriage in New Zealand regardless of gender. He also supported and voted for amendments which would have allowed celebrants to be able to refuse to marry gay couples.[30][31] In a speech at Parliament, Borrows said he considered "that all relationships should be treated in exactly the same way, whether they be heterosexual marriages or whether they be civil unions between heterosexual couples or gay couples, or long-term de facto relationships between heterosexual couples or gay couples." However, he also said, "My fundamental concern with this bill, as I stated earlier, is that it seeks to redefine marriage as something other than a heterosexual institution, which it has always been, albeit the odd exception when some Greek wanted to marry his manservant, and no doubt somewhere back in history someone wanted to marry some other creature from another species."[32]

Borrows wrote an opinion piece in 2018 following controversial comments about homosexuals by Australian rugby player Israel Folau. In that piece, Borrows said, "Regardless of their right to say what they really think, I wonder how reflective the comments were of the principles of Mr Folau's faith. I can't see how it adds to the world for views to be expressed boldly and coldly in the way they were."[33]

New Zealand history

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.[34]

Other positions

While a member of Parliament, Borrows voted for the Gambling (Gambling Harm Reduction) Amendment Bill at all three readings. The bill provided local communities with more power to determine where certain gambling machines could be located and in how the proceeds can be distributed.[30] He voted against a bill which would have allowed all retailers in the Waitaki electorate to trade on Good Friday and Easter Sunday, but for a bill that granted territorial authorities some power to create bylaws that allow shop trading on Easter Sunday. The bill also enabled shop workers to refuse work on Easter Sunday.[30]

Personal life

His parents were lifelong socialists.[35] He described himself as a "liberal Christian".[33] As of 2007, he was living in Hāwera with his wife, Ella, with whom he had three children. He was a lay preacher in the Presbyterian Church.[35] In 2007 he had a "stomach-stapling" operation to reduce weight.[36]

He was related to MPs Chris Finlayson and Annette King through the large Russ family of Nelson.[37]

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, Borrows had his driving licence 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.[38]

In February 2023, Borrows' daughter posted on Facebook that he had head and neck squamous-cell cancer and that his condition had worsened.[39] He died in Hāwera on 27 February, at age 65.[40]

References

  1. ↑ "MP a former Nelsonian". The Nelson Mail. 19 September 2005. p. 2.
  2. ↑ "Whanganui". Taranaki Daily News. 20 July 2002. p. 18.
  3. ↑ "No. 47755". The London Gazette. 26 January 1979. p. 1161.
  4. ↑ "Honours and awards" (PDF). New Zealand Gazette. No. 95. 2 November 1978. p. 2989.
  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. 1 2 3 Galuszka, Jono (23 June 2017). "Chester Borrows looks back on 12 years in Parliament". Stuff. Retrieved 26 November 2022.
  8. ↑ "Party Lists of Successful Registered Parties". Electoral Commission. Retrieved 24 March 2017.
  9. ↑ "Party Lists of Successful Registered Parties". Electoral Commission. Retrieved 24 March 2017.
  10. ↑ "Official Count Results – Whanganui".
  11. ↑ "Official Count Results – Whanganui".
  12. ↑ "Official Count Results – Whanganui".
  13. ↑ "Official Count Results – Whanganui".
  14. ↑ "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.
  15. 1 2 "Borrows, Chester – New Zealand Parliament". www.parliament.nz. Retrieved 26 November 2022.
  16. 1 2 3 4 Moir, Jo (28 November 2016). "National MP Chester Borrows wishes he spoke out more as 12 years in politics ends". Stuff. Retrieved 26 November 2022.
  17. ↑ "Borrows not invited to Cabinet table". Wanganui Chronicle. 7 October 2014. Retrieved 29 January 2019.
  18. ↑ "Roll of The Honourables". DPMC. Retrieved 22 March 2017.
  19. ↑ Burr, Lloyd (8 February 2017). "National MP condemns Trump's ban, but PM won't". Newshub. Retrieved 5 June 2018.
  20. ↑ "New Year honours list 2018". Department of the Prime Minister and Cabinet. 30 December 2017. Retrieved 4 January 2018.
  21. ↑ "Former National MP Chester Borrows to head justice reform group". The New Zealand Herald. 12 July 2018. Retrieved 29 January 2019.
  22. 1 2 Shaskey, Tara (29 June 2020). "Renewed calls for body cameras for police". Stuff. Retrieved 26 November 2022.
  23. ↑ Groenestein, Catherine (5 November 2021). "Future sounds promising for historical South Taranaki church". Stuff. Retrieved 26 November 2022.
  24. ↑ "Vote: Crimes (Substituted Section 59) Amendment Bill — Third Reading – New Zealand Parliament". www.parliament.nz. Retrieved 26 November 2022.
  25. ↑ "Assessing the Chester Borrow's proposal" (PDF). March 2007. Archived from the original (PDF) on 14 October 2008. Retrieved 25 August 2008.
  26. ↑ "Crimes (Substituted Section 59) Amendment Bill — In Committee – New Zealand Parliament". www.parliament.nz. Retrieved 26 November 2022.
  27. ↑ Borrows, Chester (25 November 2019). "'Tough on crime' rhetoric is cheap, easy and terrifyingly effective". The Spinoff. Retrieved 25 November 2019.
  28. ↑ McConnell, Glenn (12 June 2022). "'It will not work': Ex-cop and National MP says party's gang policy is made for headlines". Stuff. Archived from the original on 14 June 2022. Retrieved 17 June 2022.
  29. ↑ Palmer, Russell (18 November 2022). "Boot camps a 'cliche', says former National minister Chester Borrows". Radio New Zealand. Archived from the original on 20 November 2022. Retrieved 22 November 2022.
  30. 1 2 3 4 "Voting records for Hon Chester Borrows". voted.nz. Retrieved 26 November 2022.
  31. ↑ "Borrows, Chester: Marriage (Definition of Marriage) Amendment Bill — In Committee – New Zealand Parliament". www.parliament.nz. Retrieved 26 November 2022.
  32. ↑ "Borrows, Chester: Marriage (Definition of Marriage) Amendment Bill — Second Reading – New Zealand Parliament". www.parliament.nz. Retrieved 26 November 2022.
  33. 1 2 Borrows, Chester (18 May 2018). "Chester Borrows: Who will throw the first rock?". Wanganui Chronicle. Whanganui. Retrieved 5 June 2018.
  34. ↑ Borrows, Chester (1 June 2018). "Chester Borrows: Learn your history, no matter how unpalatable it might be". Wanganui Chronicle. Retrieved 5 June 2018.
  35. 1 2 Braunias, Steve (17 June 2007). "Chester's patch". Sunday Star Times. p. 18.
  36. ↑ Palmer, Rebecca (29 December 2007). "How MP took a massive weight off his shoulders". Dominion Post. Retrieved 6 February 2015.
  37. ↑ Finlayson, Christopher (2022). Yes, Minister. Auckland: Allen & Unwin. p. 59. ISBN 978-199-1006-103.
  38. ↑ "Former politician in court for limited licence following speeding incidents". Stuff. 7 January 2020. Retrieved 7 January 2020.
  39. ↑ "Former MP Chester Borrows battling terminal cancer, family called to bedside". The New Zealand Herald. 26 February 2023. Retrieved 26 February 2023.
  40. ↑ "Former MP Chester Borrows dies after cancer battle". The New Zealand Herald. 27 February 2023. Retrieved 27 February 2023.
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