David Schnauer is a retired Auckland lawyer, author, and economic commentator. A fifth-generation New Zealander born in 1949, he studied at Auckland Grammar and the University of Auckland, completing a BCom in Macroeconomics and an LLB (Hons). He began as the first Judges’ Clerk at the Auckland High Court and went on to a long career in commercial law, including partnership roles and later co-leading Schnauer & Co in Milford until retiring in 2012.

Although a career lawyer, David’s enduring interest has been economics. In retirement he has written articles and an e-book on New Zealand’s economic direction, and is publishing Uncomfortable Economics in 2026, proposing long-term policy ideas to inform public debate.

He stood for Parliament in the 1980s and later served as ACT Party Vice-President. He lives in Milford with his wife Tricia, a former ACT MP. Together they have a blended family of four children and seven grandchildren.