Geoffrey Palmer (politician)

The Right Honourable Sir Geoffrey Palmer KCMG AC KC
Palmer in 2020
33rd Prime Minister of New Zealand
In office 8 August 1989 – 4 September 1990
Monarch	Elizabeth II
Governor‑General	Paul Reeves
Deputy	Helen Clark
Preceded by	David Lange
Succeeded by	Mike Moore
10th Leader of the New Zealand Labour Party
In office 8 August 1989 – 4 September 1990
Deputy	Helen Clark
Preceded by	David Lange
Succeeded by	Mike Moore
10th Deputy Prime Minister of New Zealand
In office 26 July 1984 – 8 August 1989
Prime Minister	David Lange
Preceded by	Jim McLay
Succeeded by	Helen Clark
26th Attorney-General
In office 26 July 1984 – 4 August 1989
Prime Minister	David Lange
Preceded by	Jim McLay
Succeeded by	David Lange
39th Minister of Justice
In office 26 July 1984 – 8 August 1989
Prime Minister	David Lange
Preceded by	Jim McLay
Succeeded by	Bill Jeffries
Member of the New Zealand Parliament for Christchurch Central
In office 18 August 1979 – 27 October 1990
Preceded by	Bruce Barclay
Succeeded by	Lianne Dalziel
Personal details
Born	Geoffrey Winston Russell Palmer (1942-04-21) 21 April 1942 (age 82) Nelson, New Zealand
Political party	Labour
Spouse	Margaret Hinchcliff ​ (m. 1963)​
Children	2, including Matthew Palmer
Education	Victoria University of Wellington University of Chicago Law School
Occupation	Law professor
Signature

Sir Geoffrey Winston Russell Palmer KCMG AC KC PC (born 21 April 1942) is a New Zealand lawyer and former politician who was a member of Parliament from 1979 to 1990. He served as the 33rd prime minister of New Zealand for a little over a year, from August 1989 until September 1990, leading the Fourth Labour Government. As minister of justice from 1984 to 1989, Palmer was responsible for considerable reforms of the country's legal and constitutional framework, such as the creation of the Constitution Act 1986, New Zealand Bill of Rights, Imperial Laws Application Act, and the State Sector Act. He served as president of the New Zealand Law Commission, from 2005 to 2010.