Rt Hon Sir Geoffrey Palmer KC has had a rich and multifarious career in law and politics. A law professor before entering New Zealand politics as the MP for Christchurch Central in 1979, in Parliament he held the offices of Attorney-General, Minister of Justice, Leader of the House, Minister for the Environment, Deputy Prime Minister and Prime Minister. Since leaving politics in 1990 he has been a law professor, a foundation partner of a law firm, President of the Law Commission, chair of the Legislation Design Committee (2006–2008), New Zealand’s Commissioner to the International Whaling Commission, and chair of the Panel of Inquiry on the 31 May 2010 Flotilla Incident for the United Nations in New York, amongst many other distinguished appointments.

The Symposium held at Te Herenga Waka—Victoria University of Wellington in October 2022 in Geoffrey Palmer’s honour and to mark the University’s Governing for the Future strategic theme in the 125th year since the Victoria College Act 1897 was enacted, provided an opportunity for all who attended to think deeply and broadly about whether law and policy in a wide range of areas are fit for the future. In the essays in this book, eminent judges, scholars and politicians discuss themes that have animated his career in public affairs, including: constitutional government; democracy and its integrity; indigenous-state relations and te Tiriti o Waitangi; the environment and climate change; law reform and human rights.