# Geoffrey Palmer

_Prime Minister of New Zealand from 1989 to 1990_

Canonical: https://diginpl.com/people/geoffrey-palmer-q1385100
Last updated: 2026-11-02

> Sir Geoffrey Winston Russell Palmer is a New Zealand lawyer, political scientist and former politician, who served as the 33rd prime minister of New Zealand for a little over a year from August 1989 until September 1990. A member of Parliament from 1979 to 1990, he spent six years as a senior member of the Fourth Labour Government.

## Quick facts

- **Born:** 21 April 1942 ([Wikidata](https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q1385100#P569))
- **Place of birth:** Nelson ([Wikidata](https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q1385100#P19))
- **Citizenship:** New Zealand ([Wikidata](https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q1385100#P27))
- **Occupation:** politician; university teacher; lawyer; judge; environmentalist; jurist ([Wikidata](https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q1385100#P106))
- **Political party:** New Zealand Labour Party ([Wikidata](https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q1385100#P102))
- **Education:** Victoria University of Wellington; Nelson College; University of Chicago Law School; Weir House ([Wikidata](https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q1385100#P69))
- **Positions held:** Prime Minister of New Zealand (8 August 1989 – 4 September 1990); Minister of Education of New Zealand (8 August 1989 – 14 August 1989); Minister for the Environment (24 August 1987 – 2 November 1990); Deputy Prime Minister of New Zealand (26 July 1984 – 8 August 1989); Minister of Justice (26 July 1984 – 4 August 1989); Attorney-General of New Zealand (26 July 1984 – 4 August 1989); Member of the New Zealand Parliament (18 August 1979 – 27 October 1990); Member of the Privy Council of the United Kingdom ([Wikidata](https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q1385100#P39))
- **Awards:** Knight Commander of the Order of St Michael and St George; Honorary Companion of the Order of Australia; King's Counsel; honorary doctor of Victoria University of Wellington; Owen Woodhouse Memorial lecture ([Wikidata](https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q1385100#P166))

## Questions

**When was Geoffrey Palmer born?**  
Geoffrey Palmer was born on 21 April 1942 in Nelson.

**What positions has Geoffrey Palmer held?**  
Positions held by Geoffrey Palmer include: Prime Minister of New Zealand (1989–1990); Minister of Education of New Zealand (1989–1989); Minister for the Environment (1987–1990); Deputy Prime Minister of New Zealand (1984–1989); Minister of Justice (1984–1989).

**Where did Geoffrey Palmer study?**  
Geoffrey Palmer was educated at Victoria University of Wellington, Nelson College, University of Chicago Law School, Weir House.

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## Sources

- [Wikipedia (English): Geoffrey Palmer](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Geoffrey_Palmer_(New_Zealand_politician)) — [CC BY-SA 4.0](https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/)
- [Wikidata item Q1385100](https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q1385100) — [CC0 1.0](https://creativecommons.org/publicdomain/zero/1.0/)
- [Image: Geoffrey Palmer, 2020.jpg by Governor-General of New Zealand (CC BY 4.0)](https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Geoffrey_Palmer,_2020.jpg)

## Licence and attribution

Text from the Wikipedia article Geoffrey Palmer, licensed under CC BY-SA 4.0. This page's text is shared under the same licence. Facts from Wikidata (CC0). Image: Geoffrey Palmer, 2020.jpg — Governor-General of New Zealand, CC BY 4.0.

## Cite this page

"Geoffrey Palmer". DigiNepal. Last updated 2 November 2026. https://diginpl.com/people/geoffrey-palmer-q1385100. Retrieved 9 November 2026.