Age, Biography and Wiki

Geoffrey Palmer (politician) (Geoffrey Winston Russell Palmer) was born on 21 April, 1942 in Nelson, New Zealand, is a Prime Minister of New Zealand from 1989 to 1990. Discover Geoffrey Palmer (politician)'s Biography, Age, Height, Physical Stats, Dating/Affairs, Family and career updates. Learn How rich is he in this year and how he spends money? Also learn how he earned most of networth at the age of 81 years old?

Popular As Geoffrey Winston Russell Palmer
Occupation Law professor
Age 81 years old
Zodiac Sign Taurus
Born 21 April 1942
Birthday 21 April
Birthplace Nelson, New Zealand
Nationality New Zealand

We recommend you to check the complete list of Famous People born on 21 April. He is a member of famous Minister with the age 81 years old group.

Geoffrey Palmer (politician) Height, Weight & Measurements

At 81 years old, Geoffrey Palmer (politician) height not available right now. We will update Geoffrey Palmer (politician)'s Height, weight, Body Measurements, Eye Color, Hair Color, Shoe & Dress size soon as possible.

Physical Status
Height Not Available
Weight Not Available
Body Measurements Not Available
Eye Color Not Available
Hair Color Not Available

Who Is Geoffrey Palmer (politician)'s Wife?

His wife is Margaret Hinchcliff (m. 1963)

Family
Parents Not Available
Wife Margaret Hinchcliff (m. 1963)
Sibling Not Available
Children 2, including Matthew Palmer

Geoffrey Palmer (politician) Net Worth

His net worth has been growing significantly in 2023-2024. So, how much is Geoffrey Palmer (politician) worth at the age of 81 years old? Geoffrey Palmer (politician)’s income source is mostly from being a successful Minister. He is from New Zealand. We have estimated Geoffrey Palmer (politician)'s net worth, money, salary, income, and assets.

Net Worth in 2024 $1 Million - $5 Million
Salary in 2024 Under Review
Net Worth in 2023 Pending
Salary in 2023 Under Review
House Not Available
Cars Not Available
Source of Income Minister

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Timeline

1942

Sir Geoffrey Winston Russell Palmer (born 21 April 1942) is a New Zealand lawyer, legal academic, and former politician, who was a member of Parliament from 1979 to 1990.

1964

He graduated with a Bachelor of Arts degree in 1964 and a Bachelor of Laws in 1965.

1967

After working for a time in Wellington, he attended the University of Chicago Law School, gaining a Juris Doctor in 1967.

1969

He moved from New Zealand to Iowa in August 1969 to become a professor at the University of Iowa College of Law.

In his first year, he taught the newly adapted small-section courses of American Property law, Conflict Resolution, and International law.

He also developed the curriculum for a Torts course to be taught during the second year of law school.

This was the first course of its kind in the United States and he was granted tenure in his second year of teaching at the college.

1972

In 1972, he left to be a visiting professor at the University of Virginia College of Law.

1974

Eventually, in 1974, he was appointed to a professorship of law at Victoria University of Wellington, bringing him back to New Zealand.

1975

At the 1975 general election, Palmer took part in the "Citizens for Rowling" campaign.

1979

In a 1979 by-election, Palmer was elected to Parliament as the member for Christchurch Central, having stood as the Labour Party candidate.

1981

In March 1981 he was elevated to the shadow cabinet as spokesperson for constitutional affairs and associate spokesperson for justice.

Following Labour's unexpected loss at the 1981 general election Palmer gained the social welfare and accident compensation portfolios.

1983

In 1983, Palmer stood for the deputy leadership of the party.

In a three-way contest, in which all candidates were from Christchurch to reflect geographical proportionality, Palmer trailed on the first ballot to Papanui MP Mike Moore.

Lyttelton MP Ann Hercus was eliminated and on the second ballot almost all of her supporters voted for Palmer, who beat Moore by one vote.

He became deputy Leader of the Opposition.

1984

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.

When, in 1984, the Labour Party won the general elections, Palmer became Deputy Prime Minister of the Fourth Labour Government.

He also became Attorney-General and Minister of Justice.

The new justice minister, who had promoted proportional representation as a law professor in his book Unbridled Power?, also published in 1984, set up a Royal Commission to investigate the electoral system and propose modifications or alternatives.

1986

His Royal Commission reported in December 1986, recommending the mixed-member proportional representation system.

1987

After the 1987 elections, when Labour was re-elected, he also became Minister of the Environment, an area in which he took personal interest.

The most notable feature of New Zealand politics at the time was the economic change promoted by the Finance Minister, Roger Douglas.

Douglas was advancing monetarist policies involving extensive privatisation of state assets and the removal of tariffs and subsidies—these reforms were dubbed "Rogernomics".

These policies, which contravened Labour's basic policy platform and campaign promises, were deeply unpopular with Labour's traditional support base, and resulted in a confrontation between Prime Minister David Lange and Roger Douglas.

Lange also reneged from his promise to hold a binding referendum on the MMP system.

1989

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.

Palmer conceded defeat on MMP at an April 1989 Labour regional conference, saying that the issue was "effectively dead for the immediate future."

Eventually, Douglas was removed from Cabinet, but the dispute had weakened Lange enough that he resigned a month later.

Palmer, being deputy leader, took over as Prime Minister.

Electoral reformers in the Labour Party kept up the pressure, and in September 1989, after Palmer had become prime minister, the full annual conference of the Labour Party passed a remit endorsing a referendum on the principle of proportional representation.

Palmer, however, was perceived by the public as being too closely involved with Douglas's reforms.

Of particular concern to many people was his work on the legal aspects of state sector rearrangement, such as his preparation of the State Owned Enterprises Act.

The presence of David Caygill (a Douglas ally) as Minister of Finance further compounded perception that Palmer was doing nothing to address public concerns.

1991

The only area in which Palmer won praise from traditional left-wing supporters was in his handling of the Environment portfolio, which he kept when he became Prime Minister – it was his work here in initiating the resource management law reform process that eventually led to the creation of the Resource Management Act 1991.

Palmer later reflected on his brief premiership:

2005

He served as president of the New Zealand Law Commission, from 2005 to 2010.

Palmer was born in Nelson and attended Nelson Central School, Nelson Intermediate School and Nelson College.

At Victoria University of Wellington, he studied both political science and law.