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Karen Louise Chhour (born ) is a New Zealand politician. She has been a member of parliament for ACT New Zealand since the 2020 general election.
In early December 2021, Chhour criticised the Labour Government's plans to introduce legislation under its Smokefree 2025 programme that would ban anyone under the age of 14 from legally purchasing tobacco for the rest of their lives. Older generations will only be permitted to buy tobacco products with very low-levels of nicotine while fewer shops will be allowed to sell tobacco products. Chhour argued that prohibition was unworkable and that the new law would create a black market for tobacco products.
On 28 September 2022, Chhour in her capacity as ACT's children spokesperson questioned the Minister of Children Kelvin Davis about the relationship between Oranga Tamariki (the Ministry for Children) and the Māori group Te Whānau o Waipareira Trust, which was being investigated for financing Māori Party candidate John Tamihere's campaign during the 2020 New Zealand general election. In response, Davis had made a statement telling Chhour to "enter the Māori world and stop looking at the world through a "vanilla lens." Chhour, who is Māori, was offended by his remarks, stating that Davis had taken away her mana. In response, ACT Party leader David Seymour described Davis' comments as "nasty" and "totally racist." The following day, Davis contacted Chhour and apologised for his remarks. Chhour accepted his apology. That same week, Chhour had introduced a member's bill that proposed repealing Section 7AA of the Oranga Tamariki Act 1989, which requires Oranga Tamariki's chief executive to recognise and commit to the principles of the Treaty of Waitangi.
In late November 2023, Chhour assumed the positions of Minister for Children and Minister for the prevention of Family and Sexual Violence in the Sixth National Government.
In mid April 2024, the Waitangi Tribunal summoned Chhour to provide evidence at an urgent inquiry into the repeal of Section 7AA of the Oranga Tamariki Act. The Tribunal asked the Minister to answer several questions including how many caregivers working with the Ministry had raised concern over the impact of Section 7AA and to provide specific examples of children being placed into unsafe conditions because of Section 7AA. In response, Crown lawyers filed judicial proceedings in the High Court seeking to block the Tribunal's summons. ACT leader Seymour criticised the Waitangi Tribunal's summons, saying that "they're buying a fight with someone with much greater mana." On 24 April, the High Court overturned the Waitangi Tribunal's subpoena to Chhour. In response, Treaty rights activist and lawyer Annette Sykes announced that she would appeal the High Court's decision. Crown Law has indicated Chhour plans to introduce her bill to repeal Section 7AA of the Oranga Tamariki Act in mid-May. Once Parliament has the bill, the Tribunal must cease its investigation into the issue. On 29 April, the Tribunal released an interim report claiming that the proposed repeal of Section 7AA would harm vulnerable children. The Tribunal is expected to release its report by 12 May 2024.
On 13 May 2024, the New Zealand Court of Appeal ruled in favour of the Waitangi Tribunal and overturned the High Court ruling against Chhour's summons. That same day, the Government's Oranga Tamariki (Repeal of Section 7AA) Amendment Bill was introduced into Parliament. On 3 April 2025, the Government's legislation repealing Section 7AA passed its third reading with the support of the governing coalition parties, becoming law. Chhour said she was proud to lead the bill into the final stage in the House and welcomed its repeal, saying that Section 7AA was "well-intended but it resulted in children being put second."
On 23 June 2024, Chhour confirmed that the Government was working to introduce a Youth Serious Offender (YSO) declaration as part of its goal of reducing serious youth reoffending by 15 percent. The YSO declaration would give Police and youth courts greater powers including sending serious youth offenders to a military-style academy, expanded use of electronic and judicial monitoring and allowing Police to arrest youth offenders for not complying with bail conditions and other court orders. Young persons that would be covered under the Youth Serious Offender category include those aged between 14 and 17 years at the time of their offending, have had two serious offenses punishable by a ten-year prison sentence proven in court, and have been assessed as likely to reoffend or have failed to respond to intervention programs.
On 20 July 2024, Chhour and Acting Prime Minister David Seymour unveiled the Government's "Military-Style Academy Pilot" for youth offenders to the media, who were given a tour of its facilities.
On 22 November 2024, Chhour announced the creation of a new Child Protection Investigation Unit, staffed by independent experts, to investigate cases of harm in state care. Janis Adair, the Chief Inspector of New Zealand's prisons, was appointed as the leader of the unit. In response, the New Zealand Police expressed concern that the new investigation unit could reduce their independence while Chief Children's Commissioner Claire Achmad expressed hope that the unit could ensure better safety for children and young people in the care of Oranga Tamariki.
In 2020, Chhour reconnected with her long-lost Australian father and discovered she has two sisters.
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