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Paul East

The Right Honourable
Paul East
CNZM QC
22nd High Commissioner from New Zealand to the United Kingdom
In office
1999–2002
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
Member of the New Zealand Parliament
for National Party list
In office
12 October 1996 – 25 January 1999
Personal details
Born (1946-08-04) 4 August 1946 (age 70)
Political party National

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

East was educated at King's College, Auckland and the University of Auckland.

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 enagaged in local politics as a member of the Rotorua City Council, which has now been subsumed into the Rotorua District Council.

East is married and has three daughters.

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.

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.

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


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