    sir geoffrey winston russell palmer  (born 21 april 1942) served as the 33rd prime minister of new zealand from august 1989 until september 1990, leading the fourth labour government. he 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. ==early life and education== 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. he graduated with a bachelor of arts degree in 1964 and a bachelor of laws in 1965. after working for a time in wellington, he attended the university of chicago's law school, gaining a juris doctor (doctorate of law) in 1967. he taught for a time at the university of iowa and the university of virginia, and undertook consultancy work for the australian government. eventually, in 1974, he was appointed to a professorship of law at victoria university of wellington, bringing him back to new zealand. at the 1975 general election, palmer took part in the "citizens for rowling" campaign. ==political career==
1942_births Attorneys_General_of_New_Zealand Deputy_Prime_Ministers_of_New_Zealand Honorary_Companions_of_the_Order_of_Australia Knights_Commander_of_the_Order_of_St_Michael_and_St_George Living_people Members_of_the_New_Zealand_House_of_Representatives Members_of_the_Privy_Council_of_the_United_Kingdom New_Zealand_Labour_Party_MPs New_Zealand_Labour_Party_leaders New_Zealand_MPs_for_Christchurch_electorates New_Zealand_Queen\'s_Counsel New_Zealand_education_ministers New_Zealand_expatriates_in_the_United_States New_Zealand_knights New_Zealand_lawyers New_Zealand_legal_scholars New_Zealand_recipients_of_a_British_knighthood New_Zealand_republicans People_educated_at_Nelson_College People_from_Nelson,_New_Zealand Prime_Ministers_of_New_Zealand University_of_Chicago_Law_School_alumni University_of_Iowa_faculty Victoria_University_of_Wellington_alumni Victoria_University_of_Wellington_faculty