1. Paul East 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.
13 Facts About Paul East
1. 2.
In 1972, Paul East married Marilyn Kottman, and the couple went on to have three children.
3.
Paul East engaged in local politics as a member of the Rotorua City Council, which has now been subsumed into the Rotorua District Council.
4.
Paul East was first elected to Parliament in the 1978 election as MP for Rotorua, and retained that seat until he became a list MP in the 1996 elections after losing a face-off for National's Rotorua nomination to Max Bradford.
5.
In 1990, Paul East was awarded the New Zealand 1990 Commemoration Medal.
6.
Paul East served in a number of ministerial roles, including those of Minister of Defence and Attorney-General in the fourth National government.
7.
When Jenny Shipley replaced Jim Bolger as leader of the National Party, Paul East was one of the minority who remained aligned with Bolger.
8.
Paul East was appointed a member of the Privy Council in 1998.
9.
Paul East was replaced in Parliament by Alec Neill, the next candidate on National's party list.
10.
Paul East headed the development of an advisory opinion to the UN General Assembly on the legality of nuclear testing in 1995.
11.
Paul East was awarded the status of Queen's Counsel while Attorney-General.
12.
From 2002, Paul East had been independent chairman of the Charity Gaming Association, which is the industry organisation for charitable trusts that operate electronic gaming machines to raise funds for community purposes.
13.
Paul East died in Auckland on 27 February 2023, at the age of 76.