Georgina Te Heuheu
Encyclopedia
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.
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.
and Rotorua
. She was a member of the Waitangi Tribunal
(1986–96).
She was the Minister for Courts and for Women's Affairs (1998–1999) during the previous National Party 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 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
.
for services to the public in 1993.
Queen's Service Order
The Queen's Service Order was established by Queen Elizabeth II on 13 March 1975, awarded by the government of New Zealand "for valuable voluntary service to the community or meritorious and faithful services to the Crown or similar services within the public sector, whether in elected or...
(born 1943) is a Māori descent of Tūhoe, Tūwharetoa, Te Arawa and Ngāti Awa. MP
Member of Parliament
A Member of Parliament is a representative of the voters to a :parliament. In many countries with bicameral parliaments, the term applies specifically to members of the lower house, as upper houses often have a different title, such as senate, and thus also have different titles for its members,...
in the New Zealand National Party
New Zealand National Party
The New Zealand National Party is the largest party in the New Zealand House of Representatives and in November 2008 formed a minority government with support from three minor parties.-Policies:...
and a Cabinet Minister in the New Zealand Government.
Early life
Born Georgina Manunui in 1943, she is the daughter of George Manunui of Waitahanui. She is a member of the Ngāti TuwharetoaNgati Tuwharetoa
Ngāti Tūwharetoa is an iwi descended from Ngātoro-i-rangi, the priest who navigated the Arawa canoe to New Zealand. The Tūwharetoa region extends from Te Awa o te Atua at Matata across the central plateau of the North Island to the lands around Mount Tongariro and Lake Taupo.The iwi is identified...
tribe of the central North Island
North Island
The North Island is one of the two main islands of New Zealand, separated from the much less populous South Island by Cook Strait. The island is in area, making it the world's 14th-largest island...
and is also related to Te Arawa
Te Arawa
Te Arawa is a confederation of Māori iwi and hapu based in the Rotorua and Bay of Plenty areas of New Zealand, with a population of around 40,000.The history of the Te Arawa people is inextricably linked to the Arawa canoe...
and Tuhoe
Tuhoe
Ngāi Tūhoe , a Māori iwi of New Zealand, takes its name from an ancestral figure, Tūhoe-pōtiki. The word tūhoe literally means "steep" or "high noon" in the Māori language...
tribes. She was born and raised at Taurewa, near Mount Tongariro
Mount Tongariro
Mount Tongariro is a volcanic complex in the North Island of New Zealand. It is located 20 kilometres to the southwest of Lake Taupo, and is the northernmost of the three active volcanoes that dominate the landscape of the central North Island....
, and received her secondary schooling at Turakina Maori Girls' College
Turakina Maori Girls' College
Turakina Māori Girls' College is a Presbyterian boarding school for young Māori women. The school was originally founded in Turakina, in 1905, by A. G. Hamilton.It was relocated to Marton in 1927, but retained its previous name...
(1956–59) and Auckland Girls' Grammar School
Auckland Girls' Grammar School
Auckland Girls' Grammar School is a New Zealand secondary school for girls located in Newton, in the Auckland central business district. Established in 1888, it is one of the oldest secondary institutions in the country...
(1960–61). She graduated from Victoria University of Wellington
Victoria University of Wellington
Victoria University of Wellington was established in 1897 by Act of Parliament, and was a former constituent college of the University of New Zealand. It is particularly well known for its programmes in law, the humanities, and some scientific disciplines, but offers a broad range of other courses...
with a BA
Bachelor of Arts
A Bachelor of Arts , from the Latin artium baccalaureus, is a bachelor's degree awarded for an undergraduate course or program in either the liberal arts, the sciences, or both...
in English and an LLB, being the first Māori woman to gain a law degree and be admitted to the High Court
High Court of New Zealand
The High Court of New Zealand is a superior court of New Zealand. It was established in 1841 and known as the Supreme Court of New Zealand until 1980....
as barrister and solicitor.
Professional life
Before being elected to Parliament, te Heuheu practised law in WellingtonWellington
Wellington is the capital city and third most populous urban area of New Zealand, although it is likely to have surpassed Christchurch due to the exodus following the Canterbury Earthquake. It is at the southwestern tip of the North Island, between Cook Strait and the Rimutaka Range...
and Rotorua
Rotorua
Rotorua is a city on the southern shores of the lake of the same name, in the Bay of Plenty region of the North Island of New Zealand. The city is the seat of the Rotorua District, a territorial authority encompassing the city and several other nearby towns...
. She was a member of the Waitangi Tribunal
Waitangi Tribunal
The Waitangi Tribunal is a New Zealand permanent commission of inquiry established under the Treaty of Waitangi Act 1975...
(1986–96).
Member of Parliament
Georgina te Heuheu was first elected to Parliament in 1996.She was the Minister for Courts and for Women's Affairs (1998–1999) during the previous National Party Government.
Speculation about her future arose in 2004 after she criticised a speech by leader Don Brash
Don Brash
Donald "Don" Thomas Brash , a New Zealand politician, was Leader of the Opposition, parliamentary leader of the National Party from 28 October 2003 to 27 November 2006 and the leader of the ACT Party for 28th April 2011 - 26 November 2011...
. Questioned some weeks later, she refused to rule out the possibility that she might switch allegiance to the new Māori Party
Maori Party
The Māori Party, a political party in New Zealand, was formed on 7 July 2004. The Party is guided by eight constitutional "kaupapa", or Party objectives. Tariana Turia formed the Māori Party after resigning from the Labour Party where she had been a Cabinet Minister in the Fifth Labour-led...
that had arisen after the resignation of Tariana Turia
Tariana Turia
Tariana Turia is a New Zealand politician. She gained considerable prominence during the foreshore and seabed controversy, and eventually broke with her party as a result...
.
However she remained with National for the 2005 Election
New Zealand general election, 2005
The 2005 New Zealand general election held on 17 September 2005 determined the composition of the 48th New Zealand Parliament. No party won a majority in the unicameral House of Representatives, but the Labour Party of Prime Minister Helen Clark secured two more seats than nearest rival, the...
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
John Key
John Phillip Key is the 38th Prime Minister of New Zealand, in office since 2008. He has led the New Zealand National Party since 2006....
.
te Heuheu announced she would retire at the 2011 election
New Zealand general election, 2011
The 2011 New Zealand general election on Saturday 26 November 2011 determined the membership of the 50th New Zealand Parliament.One hundred and twenty-one MPs were elected to the New Zealand House of Representatives, 70 from single-member electorates, including one overhang seat, and 51 from party...
.
Private life
She is married to Timoti te Heuheu, brother of Sir Tumu te Heuheu, the paramount chief of Ngāti Tuwharetoa, and has two adult sons. She was awarded a Queen's Service OrderQueen's Service Order
The Queen's Service Order was established by Queen Elizabeth II on 13 March 1975, awarded by the government of New Zealand "for valuable voluntary service to the community or meritorious and faithful services to the Crown or similar services within the public sector, whether in elected or...
for services to the public in 1993.
External links
- Profile at National party