Hon Douglas Graham

• Minister of Justice
• Minister for Courts
• Minister in Charge of Treaty of Waitangi
  Negotiations
• Minister for Disarmament and Arms Control
• Minister of Cultural Affairs
• MP, Remuera

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Biography

Hon D.A.M. Graham was appointed Minister of Justice, Minister of Cultural Affairs and Minister for Disarmament and Arms Control in November 1990. In 1991 he was appointed Minister in Charge of Treaty of Waitangi Negotiations on behalf of the Crown, and was reappointed to all positions in November 1993. In 1995 he was appointed Minister for Courts to reflect the establishment of the new Department for Courts on 1 July 1995.

Active in the National Party in the Remuera Electorate from 1978, Mr Graham was first elected to Parliament in July 1984.

His parliamentary career prior to Cabinet appointment included involvement in foreign affairs, economic and constitutional aspects of government.

Mr Graham chairs the Cabinet Committee on Treaty of Waitangi issues, he is a member of the Cabinet State Sector, Strategy, Legislation and House Business and Social and Family Policy Committees, as well as a member of the Cabinet Strategy Subcommittee on Defence and External Relations. He is also a member of the Privileges Committee of the House.

Mr Graham has led the New Zealand Government delegation to the Conference on Disarmament in Geneva and on behalf of the Government signed the Chemical Weapons Convention at the UNESCO headquarters in Paris.

Mr Graham was born in Auckland in 1942 and educated at Southwell School, Auckland Grammar School and Auckland University. He graduated LLB in 1965. He is a barrister and solicitor of the High Court of New Zealand.

Mr Graham practised law from 1965 until his election to Parliament. He established his own practice in 1968 and lectured in legal ethics at Auckland University from 1973 to 1983.

Mr Graham was President of the Auckland Medico Legal Society in 1983, is a life member of the Grammar School Old Boys Rugby Club and a former Chairman of the Board of Advisors of the Auckland Regional Orchestra.

His interests include music and golf.

Mr Graham is married to Beverley Virginia Graham and has three children.