Paul East

Paul Clayton East CNZM QC (born 4 August 1946) is a former New Zealand politician of the National Party.

The Right Honourable Paul East CNZM QC
22nd High Commissioner from New Zealand to the United Kingdom
In office 4 January 1999 – 4 January 2002
Preceded by	Richard Grant
Succeeded by	Russell Marshall
32nd Minister of Defence
In office 1 March 1996 – 5 December 1997
Prime Minister	Jim Bolger
Preceded by	Warren Cooper
Succeeded by	Max Bradford
27th Attorney-General
In office 2 November 1990 – 5 December 1997
Prime Minister	Jim Bolger
Preceded by	David Lange
Succeeded by	Doug Graham
Member of the New Zealand Parliament for Rotorua
In office 1978–1996
Preceded by	Harry Lapwood
Succeeded by	Max Bradford
Majority	429[1]
Member of the New Zealand Parliament for National Party list
In office 12 October 1996 – 25 January 1999
Personal details
Born	Paul Clayton East 4 August 1946 Opotiki, New Zealand
Political party	National

Early life and family

East was born in Opotiki on 4 August 1946, and was educated at King's College, Auckland.[2] He studied at the University of Auckland, graduating with a Bachelor of Laws degree in 1970, and the University of Virginia, where he completed a Master of Laws degree in 1972.[2]

In 1972, East married Marilyn Kottman, and the couple went on to have three children.[2]

Prior to becoming an MP, East was a lawyer and barrister with East Brewster, a Rotorua-based legal firm, from 1973 to 1978. East also engaged in local politics as a member of the Rotorua City Council, which has now been subsumed into the Rotorua District Council.

Member of Parliament

New Zealand Parliament
Years	Term	Electorate	List	Party
1978–1981	39th	Rotorua		National
1981–1984	40th	Rotorua		National
1984–1987	41st	Rotorua		National
1987–1990	42nd	Rotorua		National
1990–1993	43rd	Rotorua		National
1993–1996	44th	Rotorua		National
1996–1999	45th	List	5	National

East was first elected to Parliament in the 1978 election as MP for Rotorua, and retained that seat until he opted to become a list MP in the 1996 elections. In 1990, East was awarded the New Zealand 1990 Commemoration Medal.[2]

East served in a number of ministerial roles, including those of Minister of Defence and Attorney-General in the fourth National government. When Jenny Shipley replaced Jim Bolger as leader of the National Party, East was one of the minority who remained aligned with Bolger.

East was appointed a member of the Privy Council in 1998.[3] In 1999, he resigned from Parliament to take up the position of New Zealand High Commissioner to the United Kingdom in London.[4] He was replaced in Parliament by Alec Neill, the next candidate on National's party list.

Attorney-General

As Attorney-General, East advocated on important international issues, including a case brought before the International Court of Justice in 1995 on behalf of New Zealand against France's nuclear testing in the Pacific Ocean. East also headed the development of an advisory opinion to the UN General Assembly on the legality of nuclear testing in 1995. East was awarded the status of Queen's Counsel (QC) while Attorney-General.

Outside Parliament

Since 2002 East has been independent chairman of the Charity Gaming Association (Inc) (CGA), which is the industry organisation for charitable trusts that operate electronic gaming machines ("pokies") to raise funds for community purposes. In 2008 the CGA's members operated 75% of non-club gaming machines in New Zealand and generated $250 million worth of grants for worthwhile community purposes.

In the 2005 Queen’s Birthday Honours, East was appointed a Companion of the New Zealand Order of Merit for services to Parliament and the law.[5]

References

1. At 1993 election
2. Taylor, Alister; Coddington, Deborah (1994). Honoured by the Queen – New Zealand. Auckland: New Zealand Who's Who Aotearoa. p. 130. ISBN 0-908578-34-2.
3. "Privy Council". dpmc.govt.nz. Department of the Prime Minister and Cabinet. Retrieved 24 March 2014.
4. Paul East to observe Sri Lankan elections
5. "Queen's Birthday honours list 2005". Department of the Prime Minister and Cabinet. 6 June 2005. Retrieved 9 November 2019.

• 1990 Parliamentary Candidates for the New Zealand National Party p. 68 by John Stringer (New Zealand National Party, 1990)