About the Author

Sir Geoffrey Palmer QC is a member of Her Majesty's Privy Council. Born in Nelson in 1942, he was a law professor both in the United States and New Zealand before going into politics. He was elected MP for Christchurch Central in 1979 and became Deputy leader of the Labour Opposition in 1983. When the Fourth Labour Government was formed in 1984 he became Deputy Prime Minister, Attorney-General, Leader of the House and Minister of Justice. After the 1987 election he ceased being Leader of the House and became Minister for the Environment, a portfolio he retained when he became Prime Minister in 1989. Currently he practises as a barrister in Harbour Chambers in Wellington and is a Distinguished Fellow at the Victoria University of Wellington Law Faculty and Centre for Public Law.