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Professional Background
Updated 2 Apr 2026Sir Geoffrey Winston Russell Palmer (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 Act 1990, Imperial Laws Application Act 1988, and the State Sector Act 1988. He served as president of the New Zealand Law Commission, from 2005 to 2010.
Salary & Role History
12 years of remuneration data| Year | Primary Role | Salary Category | Annual Salary |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1990 | Prime Minister (until Sep) Also: Prime Minister (until Sep); Labour; Christchurch Central | Electorate MP (Christchurch Central) | $0(highest) |
| 1989 | Prime Minister Also: Prime Minister; Labour; Christchurch Central | Electorate MP (Christchurch Central) | $0(highest) |
| 1988 | Deputy Prime Minister; Attorney-General |
Cross-Sector Roles
Charity Roles (3)
- Vice President/Treasurer
- Trustee
Crown Entity Roles (1)
- Member of Parliament
Cross-Sector Roles
Charity Roles(3)
- Vice President/Treasurer at The Phoenix Astronomical Society Incorporated
- Trustee at Chanel College Education Foundation
- Trustee at Antarctic Heritage Trust
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Data Sources
- MP expenses from Parliament.nz
- CE remuneration from Te Kawa Mataaho