{{short description|56th Mayor of Dunedin}} {{For|the Malaysian politician|Peter Chin Fah Kui}} {{Use New Zealand English|date=November 2014}} {{Use dmy dates|date=February 2025}} {{Infobox officeholder | honorific_prefix = | name = Peter Chin | honorific_suffix = {{post-nominals|country=NZL|CNZM|size=100%}} | image = Peter Chin 2010 Otago Rally.jpg | alt = | caption = Chin in 2010 | order = 56th | office = Mayor of Dunedin | term_start = 2004 | term_end = 2010 | predecessor = Sukhi Turner | successor = Dave Cull | birth_name = Peter Wing Ho Chin | birth_date = {{birth year and age|1941}} | birth_place = | death_date = <!-- {{Death date and age|df=yes|YYYY|MM|DD|YYYY|MM|DD}} (death date then birth) --> | death_place = | other_names = | known_for = | occupation = Lawyer }} '''Peter Wing Ho Chin''' {{post-nominals|country=NZL|CNZM|size=85%}} ({{lang-zh|c=陳荣和|p=Chén Rónghé|j={{kCantonese|陳荣和}}|first=j}}, born 1941) is a lawyer and was the 56th Mayor of Dunedin, New Zealand. He served two terms as Mayor from 2004 to 2010.<ref name="OBHS">{{cite journal |last1=Rodgers |first1=Melissa |title=Visit from Old Boy Peter Chin |journal=Hail to |date=19 September 2017 |url=https://hail.to/otago-boys-high-school/article/k7ANGMp |access-date=20 March 2023}}</ref>
==Early life and career== Peter Chin is a descendant of the earliest Chinese immigrants to New Zealand,<ref name=TeAra_Ip>{{cite encyclopedia |title=Peter Chin |url=https://teara.govt.nz/en/photograph/4106/peter-chin |first=Manying |last=Ip |date=15 November 2012 |encyclopedia=Te Ara - the Encyclopedia of New Zealand |accessdate=6 September 2015 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20221016012929/https://teara.govt.nz/en/photograph/4106/peter-chin |archive-date=16 October 2022 |url-status=live }}</ref> and his family owned a fish and chips take-away establishment in Dunedin.<ref name="OBHS" />
In the 1950s Chin was a student at Otago Boys' High School<ref name="OBHS" /> and then the University of Otago, graduating with an LLB in 1965.<ref name="Otago Uni">{{cite journal |title=Leaders, 150 Alumni heroes |journal=University of Otago Magazine |date=Autumn 2019 |issue=48 |url=https://www.otago.ac.nz/otagomagazine/issue48/alumni-heroes/otago709076.html |access-date=20 March 2023}}</ref> 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.<ref name="Hidden Talent">{{cite news |title=Hidden Talent: Former Dunedin Mayor Peter Chin |url=https://www.rnz.co.nz/national/programmes/afternoons/audio/201832991/hidden-talent-former-dunedin-mayor-peter-chin |access-date=20 March 2023 |work=Radio New Zealand |date=13 February 2017 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210120195048/https://www.rnz.co.nz/national/programmes/afternoons/audio/201832991/hidden-talent-former-dunedin-mayor-peter-chin |archive-date=20 January 2021}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |last1=Rae |first1=Sally |title=Team player in law |url=https://www.odt.co.nz/business/team-player-law |access-date=20 March 2023 |work=Otago Daily Times |date=1 July 2016 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230320233047/https://www.odt.co.nz/business/team-player-law |archive-date=20 March 2023|url-status=live}}</ref>
==Mayoral career== Chin 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.<ref name="OBHS" />
As Mayor, Chin supported the Forsyth Barr Stadium, which drew controversy over its cost and source of funding.<ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.nbr.co.nz/article/court-appeal-dimisses-allegations-against-dunedin-city-council-108913|title=Court of Appeal dismisses allegations against Dunedin City Council|last=Gregor|first=Kelly|date=24 August 2009|work=National Business Review|accessdate=17 April 2010|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110611064055/http://www.nbr.co.nz/article/court-appeal-dimisses-allegations-against-dunedin-city-council-108913|archive-date=11 June 2011|url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.3news.co.nz/News/NationalNews/Dunedin-stadium-plans-advance/tabid/423/articleID/100435/cat/64/Default.aspx|title=Dunedin stadium plans advance|date=20 April 2009|work=3 News|accessdate=17 April 2010|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120324083420/http://www.3news.co.nz/News/NationalNews/Dunedin-stadium-plans-advance/tabid/423/articleID/100435/cat/64/Default.aspx|archive-date=24 March 2012|url-status=dead}}</ref> In the course of examining funding options he sent a confidential letter to the Government asking for money without full Council approval,<ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.odt.co.nz/your-town/dunedin/41163/questions-over-secret-stadium-letter|title=Questions over secret stadium letter|last=Price|first=Mark|date=29 January 2009|work=Otago Daily Times|accessdate=17 April 2010|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090525044756/http://www.odt.co.nz/your-town/dunedin/41163/questions-over-secret-stadium-letter|archive-date=25 May 2009|url-status=live}}</ref> and was on a committee of three that later censured Councillor Teresa Stevenson for leaking the letter to the ''Otago Daily Times''.<ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.odt.co.nz/news/dunedin/54311/stevenson-apologise-leaking-information|title=Stevenson to apologise for leaking information|last=Schofield|first=Edith|date=6 May 2009|work=Otago Daily Times|accessdate=14 September 2009|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090507111653/http://www.odt.co.nz/news/dunedin/54311/stevenson-apologise-leaking-information|archive-date=7 May 2009|url-status=live}}</ref>
==Post-mayoral career== During the 2010 Dunedin mayoral election, Peter Chin was defeated by Greater Dunedin candidate and Dunedin City Council councillor Dave Cull.<ref>{{cite news|title=Cull wins Dunedin mayoralty|url=http://www.odt.co.nz/elections-2010/dunedin-city-council/130812/cull-wins-dunedin-mayoralty|date=9 October 2010|work=Otago Daily Times|accessdate=10 October 2010|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20101011163620/http://www.odt.co.nz/elections-2010/dunedin-city-council/130812/cull-wins-dunedin-mayoralty|archive-date=11 October 2010|url-status=live}}</ref> He was one of the twelve members of the Constitutional Advisory Panel, which sought public input on a written constitution for New Zealand,<ref>{{cite web |title=The Panel |url=http://ndhadeliver.natlib.govt.nz/ArcAggregator/arcView/frameView/IE28514444/http://www.ourconstitution.org.nz/ |work=Constitutional Advisory Panel |date= |accessdate=24 March 2019}}</ref> since 2011.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.beehive.govt.nz/release/constitutional-advisory-panel-named |title=Constitutional Advisory Panel named |date=4 August 2011 |work=beehive.govt.nz |publisher=New Zealand Government |accessdate=6 September 2015 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150923185242/http://www.beehive.govt.nz/release/constitutional-advisory-panel-named |archive-date=23 September 2015 |url-status=live }}</ref>
==Community involvement== In 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.<ref name="Hidden Talent" /> 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.<ref>{{cite web | url=https://dpmc.govt.nz/publications/new-year-honours-list-2003 | title=New Year honours list 2003 |date=31 December 2002 | publisher=Department of the Prime Minister and Cabinet | accessdate=26 July 2019}}</ref>
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.<ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.odt.co.nz/news/dunedin/7995/200000-boost-chinese-garden|title=$200,000 boost for Chinese garden|date=31 May 2008|work=Otago Daily Times |accessdate=17 April 2010|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110609025901/http://www.odt.co.nz/news/dunedin/7995/200000-boost-chinese-garden|archive-date=9 June 2011|url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.odt.co.nz/news/dunedin/7462/eleven-year-wait-chinese-garden|title=Glimpse at Chinese garden|date=28 May 2008|work=Otago Daily Times |accessdate=17 April 2010|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110609030031/http://www.odt.co.nz/news/dunedin/7462/eleven-year-wait-chinese-garden|archive-date=9 June 2011|url-status=live}}</ref> The Garden was constructed in an authentic manner, using almost a thousand tonnes of rocks imported from Lake Tai, China.<ref>Beattie, J. (ed.) (2008). ''Lan Yuan: The garden of enlightenment.'' Dunedin: Dunedin Chinese Garden Trust. p.64</ref>
He also served the chair of the national Chinese Poll Tax Heritage Trust, which was set up with government funding in 2004.<ref name=TeAra_Ip/><ref name=DIA/> The trust aims to raise awareness of the early Chinese community in New Zealand and its history, language and culture.<ref name=DIA>{{cite web |url=http://www.communitymatters.govt.nz/Funding-and-grants---Trust-and-fellowship-grants---Chinese-Poll-Tax-Heritage-Trust |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110628234500/http://www.communitymatters.govt.nz/Funding-and-grants---Trust-and-fellowship-grants---Chinese-Poll-Tax-Heritage-Trust |url-status=dead |archive-date=28 June 2011 |title=Chinese Poll Tax Heritage Trust |date=2014 |work=communitymatters.govt.nz |publisher=Department of Internal Affairs |accessdate=6 September 2015 }}</ref>
==Personal life== Chin has been married to Noleen since 1964 with whom he had 4 children.<ref>{{cite web|title=Candidate profiles for Mayor and Council wards|url=http://www.cityofdunedin.com/city/?MIvalObj=candidate_mayor_wards&MItypeObj=application/pdf&ext=.pdf|work=Dunedin City Council|accessdate=15 April 2008}}</ref> he lives in Roslyn and is a prominent opera singer. Chin suffered a heart attack on New Year's eve, 2014<ref>{{Cite web |url=http://www.superseniors.msd.govt.nz/about-superseniors/minister-senior-citizens/superseniors-champions/peter-chin-champion.html |title=Heart attack survivor reflects on life - Super Seniors |access-date=29 May 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190529083835/http://www.superseniors.msd.govt.nz/about-superseniors/minister-senior-citizens/superseniors-champions/peter-chin-champion.html |archive-date=29 May 2019 |url-status=live }}</ref> whilst on a plane from Dunedin to Wellington to visit his son. He had a triple bypass and later recovered.
==Filmography== Chin played a minor part in the 1987 film ''Illustrious Energy'', a historic drama based on the experiences of Chinese gold miners in Central Otago.<ref>{{cite web |author1=The Film Archive |title=Illustrious Energy screens at the Film Archive |url=https://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/CU1310/S00192/illustrious-energy-screens-at-the-film-archive.htm |website=Scoop |access-date=22 April 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230422053352/https://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/CU1310/S00192/illustrious-energy-screens-at-the-film-archive.htm |archive-date=22 April 2023 |date=10 October 2013 |url-status=live}}</ref>
==References== {{reflist}}
==External links== * [https://archive.today/20081014134203/http://www.dunedin.govt.nz/your-council/councillors/mayor-peter-chin Profile and contact information at the Dunedin City Council] * [https://web.archive.org/web/20081014040116/http://www.webbfarry.co.nz/people/pchin.htm Biography at Webb Farry Barristers & Solicitors]
{{s-start}} {{s-off}} {{s-bef|before=Sukhi Turner}} {{s-ttl|title=Mayor of Dunedin|years=2004-2010}} {{s-aft|after=Dave Cull}} {{end}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Chin, Peter}} Category:1941 births Category:21st-century mayors of places in New Zealand Category:Companions of the New Zealand Order of Merit Category:Living people Category:Mayors of Dunedin Category:Lawyers from Dunedin Category:New Zealand people of Chinese descent Category:University of Otago alumni Category:People educated at Otago Boys' High School