Peter Wing Ho Chin, CNZM (Chinese: 陳荣和; pinyin: Chén Rónghé; Jyutping: Can4 Wing4wo4) CNZM (born 1941) is a lawyer and was the 56th Mayor of Dunedin, New Zealand. He served two terms as Mayor from 2004 to 2010.[1]
Peter Chin | |
|---|---|
 Peter Chin starting the 2010 Rally of Otago | |
| 56th Mayor of Dunedin | |
| In office 2004–2010 | |
| Preceded by | Sukhi Turner |
| Succeeded by | Dave Cull |
| Personal details | |
| Born | Peter Wing Ho Chin 1941 (age 82–83) |
| Occupation | Lawyer |
Early life and career
editPeter Chin is a descendant of the earliest Chinese immigrants to New Zealand,[2] and his family owned a fish and chips take-away establishment in Dunedin.[1]
In the 1950s Chin was a student at Otago Boys' High School[1] and then the University of Otago, graduating with an LLB in 1965.[3] He started working as a lawyer in Dunedin in 1968 and became a founding partner at the Otago law firm Webb Farry. He also took up a position in the Otago District Law Society.[4][5]
Mayoral career
editChin was first elected in 1995 as a councillor in the Dunedin City Council, representing the Hills Ward. He served three terms before being elected as Mayor during the 2004 Dunedin mayoral election, replacing Sukhi Turner who was retiring as mayor. He was re-elected during the 2007 Dunedin mayoral election with an absolute majority.[1]
As Mayor, Chin supported the Forsyth Barr Stadium, which drew controversy over its cost and source of funding.[6][7] In the course of examining funding options he sent a confidential letter to the Government asking for money without full Council approval,[8] and was on a committee of three that later censured Councillor Teresa Stevenson for leaking the letter to the Otago Daily Times.[9]
Post-mayoral career
editDuring the 2010 Dunedin mayoral election, Peter Chin was defeated by Greater Dunedin candidate and Dunedin City Council councillor Dave Cull.[10] He was one of the twelve members of the Constitutional Advisory Panel, which sought public input on a written constitution for New Zealand,[11] since 2011.[12]
Community involvement
editIn addition to his professional and mayoral career, Chin served as the chair of the Otago Community Trust, the Chinese Garden Trust, the Otago District Law Society and head of the Gambling Commission, the government-appointed panel that regulates casinos.[4] In the 2003 New Year Honours, he was appointed a Companion of the New Zealand Order of Merit, for services to local-body and community affairs.[13]
As chair of the Chinese Gardens Trust, Chin presided over the building of the Dunedin Chinese Garden, which receive NZ$3.75 million in public funding and NZ$1 million in ratepayer funding. The Chinese Garden opened in May 2008.[14][15] The Garden was constructed in an authentic manner, using almost a thousand tonnes of rocks imported from Lake Tai, China.[16]
He also served the chair of the national Chinese Poll Tax Heritage Trust, which was set up with government funding in 2004.[2][17] The trust aims to raise awareness of the early Chinese community in New Zealand and its history, language and culture.[17]
Personal life
editChin has been married to Noleen since 1964 with whom he had 4 children.[18] he lives in Roslyn and is a prominent operatic singer. Chin suffered a heart attack on New Year's eve, 2014[19] whilst on a plane from Dunedin to Wellington to visit his son. He had a triple bypass and later recovered.
Filmography
editChin played a minor part in the 1987 film Illustrious Energy, a historic drama based on the experiences of Chinese gold miners in Central Otago.[20]
References
edit- ^ a b c d Rodgers, Melissa (19 September 2017). "Visit from Old Boy Peter Chin". Hail to. Retrieved 20 March 2023.
- ^ a b Ip, Manying (15 November 2012). "Peter Chin". Te Ara - the Encyclopedia of New Zealand. Archived from the original on 16 October 2022. Retrieved 6 September 2015.
- ^ "Leaders, 150 Alumni heroes". University of Otago Magazine (48). Autumn 2019. Retrieved 20 March 2023.
- ^ a b "Hidden Talent: Former Dunedin Mayor Peter Chin". Radio New Zealand. 13 February 2017. Archived from the original on 20 January 2021. Retrieved 20 March 2023.
- ^ Rae, Sally (1 July 2016). "Team player in law". Otago Daily Times. Archived from the original on 20 March 2023. Retrieved 20 March 2023.
- ^ Gregor, Kelly (24 August 2009). "Court of Appeal dismisses allegations against Dunedin City Council". National Business Review. Archived from the original on 11 June 2011. Retrieved 17 April 2010.
- ^ "Dunedin stadium plans advance". 3 News. 20 April 2009. Archived from the original on 24 March 2012. Retrieved 17 April 2010.
- ^ Price, Mark (29 January 2009). "Questions over secret stadium letter". Otago Daily Times. Archived from the original on 25 May 2009. Retrieved 17 April 2010.
- ^ Schofield, Edith (6 May 2009). "Stevenson to apologise for leaking information". Otago Daily Times. Archived from the original on 7 May 2009. Retrieved 14 September 2009.
- ^ "Cull wins Dunedin mayoralty". Otago Daily Times. 9 October 2010. Archived from the original on 11 October 2010. Retrieved 10 October 2010.
- ^ "The Panel". Constitutional Advisory Panel. Retrieved 24 March 2019.
- ^ "Constitutional Advisory Panel named". beehive.govt.nz. New Zealand Government. 4 August 2011. Archived from the original on 23 September 2015. Retrieved 6 September 2015.
- ^ "New Year honours list 2003". Department of the Prime Minister and Cabinet. 31 December 2002. Retrieved 26 July 2019.
- ^ "$200,000 boost for Chinese garden". Otago Daily Times. 31 May 2008. Archived from the original on 9 June 2011. Retrieved 17 April 2010.
- ^ "Glimpse at Chinese garden". Otago Daily Times. 28 May 2008. Archived from the original on 9 June 2011. Retrieved 17 April 2010.
- ^ Beattie, J. (ed.) (2008). Lan Yuan: The garden of enlightenment. Dunedin: Dunedin Chinese Garden Trust. p.64
- ^ a b "Chinese Poll Tax Heritage Trust". communitymatters.govt.nz. Department of Internal Affairs. 2014. Archived from the original on 28 June 2011. Retrieved 6 September 2015.
- ^ "Candidate profiles for Mayor and Council wards" (PDF). Dunedin City Council. Retrieved 15 April 2008.
- ^ "Heart attack survivor reflects on life - Super Seniors". Archived from the original on 29 May 2019. Retrieved 29 May 2019.
- ^ The Film Archive (10 October 2013). "Illustrious Energy screens at the Film Archive". Scoop. Archived from the original on 22 April 2023. Retrieved 22 April 2023.