| The Honourable Georgina te Heuheu QSO, MP |
|
|---|---|
| Minister for Courts | |
| Incumbent | |
| Assumed office 19 November 2008 |
|
| Prime Minister | John Key |
| Preceded by | Rick Barker |
| Minister of Pacific Island Affairs | |
| Incumbent | |
| Assumed office 19 November 2008 |
|
| Prime Minister | John Key |
| Preceded by | Winnie Laban |
| Member of the New Zealand Parliament for National Party List |
|
| Incumbent | |
| Assumed office 1996 |
|
| Personal details | |
| Born | 1943 |
| Nationality | New Zealand |
| Political party | National Party |
| Occupation | Lawyer |
Georgina Manunui te Heuheu QSO (born 1943) is a Māori descent of Tūhoe, Tūwharetoa, Te Arawa and Ngāti Awa. MP in the New Zealand National Party and a Cabinet Minister in the New Zealand Government.
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Born Georgina Manunui in 1943, she is the daughter of George Manunui of Waitahanui. She is a member of the Ngāti Tuwharetoa tribe of the central North Island and is also related to Te Arawa and Tuhoe tribes. She was born and raised at Taurewa, near Mount Tongariro, and received her secondary schooling at Turakina Maori Girls' College (1956–59) and Auckland Girls' Grammar School (1960–61). She graduated from Victoria University of Wellington with a BA in English and an LLB, being the first Māori woman to gain a law degree and be admitted to the High Court as barrister and solicitor.[1]
Before being elected to Parliament, te Heuheu practised law in Wellington and Rotorua. She was a member of the Waitangi Tribunal (1986–96).[2]
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| Years | Term | Electorate | List | Party |
| 1996–1999 | 45th | List | 7 | National |
| 1999–2002 | 46th | List | 6 | National |
| 2002–2005 | 47th | List | 6 | National |
| 2005–2008 | 48th | List | 19 | National |
| 2008–2011 | 49th | List | 17 | National |
Georgina te Heuheu was first elected to Parliament in 1996.[3]
She was the Minister for Courts and for Women's Affairs (1998–1999) during the previous National Party Government.[4]
Speculation about her future arose in 2004 after she criticised a speech by leader Don Brash. Questioned some weeks later, she refused to rule out the possibility that she might switch allegiance to the new Māori Party that had arisen after the resignation of Tariana Turia.
However she remained with National for the 2005 Election and served as a backbencher for the Party, serving as a Spokeswoman for Broadcasting, Associate Spokeswoman for Defence, Treaty of Waitangi Issues and Maori Affairs (Maori Development).
She is currently (since 19 November 2008) the Minister for Courts, Minister of Pacific Island Affairs, Minister for Disarmament and Arms Control, and Associate Minister of Maori Affairs in the National Party Government led by John Key.
te Heuheu announced she would retire at the 2011 election.[5]
She is married to Timoti te Heuheu, brother of Sir Tumu te Heuheu, the paramount chief of Ngāti Tuwharetoa, and has two adult sons.[4] She was awarded a Queen's Service Order for services to the public in 1993.