Whanganui MP Chester Borrows will retire from politics at the next election after four terms in Parliament.

Borrows has been Minister for Courts and is currently the Deputy Speaker.

He is due to stand trial next year on a charge of careless use of a motor vehicle causing injury.

It arises from an alleged incident in March when he was driving Paula Bennett from a function in his electorate, which had attracted protesters.

But he told the Herald his decision had nothing to do with the court case.

He said when he was first elected in 2005, he and his wife, Ella, had decided four terms would be enough.

Borrows, aged 59,  is a former police officer and he has a law degree as well.

He said he would like to continue to work in the justice field.

One of the highlights of his career included working on National's 2008 election  manifesto which included compulsory taking of DNA samples along with fingerprints and photos at the time of arrest, "which has and will continue to prevent a huge amount of victimization," he said.

"I am particularly proud of the youth justice reforms we worked on, which has seen falling numbers of young people appearing before the court, and recidivist offending dropping."

His electorate takes in not just Whanganui city but includes Stratford and South Taranaki.​

NZ Herald