Born Georgina Manunui in 1943, she is the daughter of George Manunui of Waitahanui. She was born and raised at Taurewa, near Mount Tongariro, and received her secondary schooling at Turakina Maori Girls" College (1956-1959) and Auckland Girls" Grammar School (1960-1961).
She graduated from Victoria University of Wellington with a Bachelor in English and an Bachelor of Laws, being the first Māori woman to gain a law degree and be admitted to the High Court as barrister and solicitor.
Member of Parliament in the New Zealand National Party and a Cabinet Minister in the New Zealand Government. Before being elected to Parliament, te Heuheu practised law in Wellington and Rotorua. 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 Fourth 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, which had formed after the resignation of Tariana Turia.
Te Heuheu announced she would retire at the 2011 election. Te Heuheu was appointed Chairwoman of Maori Television in 2012 and now also sits on several Maori Trust Boards and Charity Committees including the Tuwharetoa Maori Trust Board.
He died in 2012. She has two adult sons.
She was awarded a Queen"s Service Order for services to the public in 1993.
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 a member of the Waitangi Tribunal (1986-1996).
