Georgina Te Heuheu

Georgina Manunui Te Heuheu QSO (born 1943) is a Māori MP in the New Zealand National Party.

She was a Minister for Courts and Women's Affairs in the last National Government.

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 is currently serving 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).

Biography

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. She is married to Timoti Te Heuheu, brother of Tumu Te Heuheu, the paramount chief of Ngāti Tuwharetoa, and has two adult sons.