Former Whanganui MP Chester Borrows honoured

Chester Borrows made the New Years Honours list following his retirement from Parliament.

Chester Borrows sees his New Year Honour as more than recognition for his time as an MP but for four decades of other community service too.

Mr Borrows retired from Parliament this year after 12 years as Whanganui's MP and has been made a Companion of the Queen's Service Order for services as a Member of Parliament.

"It comes at the end of 40 years of community service, so that's nice," Mr Borrows said.

"I can think of lots of people in our community who are worthy of acknowledgement from Queen's awards and I guess I've resolved to make sure I do something about getting those people recognised."

Mr Borrows was elected to Parliament in 2005 and the former police officer became opposition police spokesman.

As part of the three-term National-led Government from 2008 he held various roles including chairman of the Justice and Electoral Select Committee and a member of the Social Services Select Committee.

In his third term Mr Borrows became Minister for Courts alongside the associate portfolios of Justice and Social Development.

Following the 2014 election he was elected to the role of Deputy Speaker of the House.

Before entering politics Mr Borrows had a career in the police and was awarded a Queen's Commendation for Brave Conduct in 1978.

He is now patron of Birthright Whanganui and is involved in his community as a lay preacher and funeral and marriage celebrant.

Mr Borrows said he had been enjoying life after politics since the September election but was not ready to retire from work.

"It's been really relaxing," he said. "I didn't realised how absolutely knackered I was.

"I'm not done working. I've done that chapter of my life and I'm looking for the next."

And he wanted to acknowledged others who has helped him achieve what he had.

"You don't get to achieve things in government without the support of a helluva lot of people, friends and family," he said.

"I'm really grateful to those people who have kept the home fires burning while I've been swanning around being a politician."