Sir Paul Reeves is the second son of D’Arcy Lionel and Hilda Mary Reeves. Sir Paul was educated at Wellington College, Victoria University of Wellington (MA), St John’s Theological College, Auckland (L.Th.) and St Peter’s College, Oxford (MA, Hon. Fellow).

Sir Paul became a deacon in the Anglican Church of New Zealand in 1958 and a priest in 1960. He was curate at Tokoroa 1958-59, curate at St Mary the Virgin, Oxford, England 1959-61, curate at Kirkley St Peter, Lowestoft, Suffolk 1961-63, vicar of St Paul, Okato 1964-66, lecturer in church history, St John’s Theological College, Auckland 1966-69, director of Christian education, Diocese of Auckland 1969-71, and Bishop of Waiapu 1971-79. Sir Paul became Bishop of Auckland in June 1979 and Primate and Archbishop of New Zealand in May 1980.

He was chairman of the Environmental Council 1974-76 and president of the National Council of Churches in New Zealand 1984-85. He was knighted in 1985.

In 1959, Sir Paul married Beverly Gwendolen Watkins and the couple have three daughters.

Governor-General of New Zealand 1985 – 1990, Sir Paul is the first churchman and first man of Maori descent appointed Governor-General. He belongs to the Puketapu Hapu of the Te Atiawa of Taranaki.

Following the completion of his term as Governor-General, Sir Paul took up a number of national and international positions, including that of Anglican Observer at the United Nations in New York, a position that he held for three years, Adjunct Professor – Awanuiarangi, Chancellor of Auckland University of Technology, Inaugural Chair of Toi te Taiao (Bioethics Council), Convenor 2005 Hui Taumata, Leader of the Commonwealth Observor Group for Ghanian-South African General Elections, and Chairperson of the Fiji Constitution Review.