Peter Chin | |
|---|---|
 Chin in 2010 | |
| 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 83–84) |
| Occupation | Lawyer |
Peter Wing Ho Chin,CNZM (Chinese:陳荣和;pinyin:Chén Rónghé;Jyutping:Can4 Wing4wo4)CNZM (born 1941) is a lawyer and was the 56thMayor of Dunedin, New Zealand. He served two terms as Mayor from 2004 to 2010.[1]
Peter Chin is a descendant of the earliest Chinese immigrants to New Zealand,[2] and his family owned afish and chipstake-away establishment inDunedin.[1]
In the 1950s Chin was a student atOtago Boys' High School[1] and then theUniversity 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 theOtago District Law Society.[4][5]
Chin was first elected in 1995 as a councillor in theDunedin City Council, representing the Hills Ward. He served three terms before being elected asMayor during the2004 Dunedin mayoral election, replacingSukhi Turner who was retiring as mayor. He was re-elected during the2007 Dunedin mayoral election with an absolute majority.[1]
As Mayor, Chin supported theForsyth 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 theOtago Daily Times.[9]
During the2010 Dunedin mayoral election, Peter Chin was defeated byGreater Dunedin candidate andDunedin City Council councillorDave Cull.[10] He was one of the twelve members of theConstitutional Advisory Panel, which sought public input on a written constitution for New Zealand,[11] since 2011.[12]
In addition to his professional and mayoral career, Chin served as the chair of theOtago Community Trust, theChinese Garden Trust, the Otago District Law Society and head of theGambling Commission, the government-appointed panel that regulatescasinos.[4] In the2003 New Year Honours, he was appointed aCompanion 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 theDunedin 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 fromLake 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]
Chin has been married to Noleen since 1964 with whom he had 4 children.[18] he lives inRoslyn and is a prominent opera 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 atriple bypass and later recovered.
Chin played a minor part in the 1987 filmIllustrious Energy, a historic drama based on the experiences of Chinese gold miners in Central Otago.[20]
| Political offices | ||
|---|---|---|
| Preceded by | Mayor of Dunedin 2004-2010 | Succeeded by |