Heather was born on Rarotonga and educated at Arorangi Primary school and Tereora College.
[1] In March 2003 Heather founded the Cook Islands National Party with the aim of securing political reform, including a shorter Parliamentary term.
[3][4] The party launched a high-profile court case against MPs Norman George and Paora Teiti in an effort to have them unseated for performing consultancy work for the government, which was seen as making them public servants and thus ineligible to hold office,[5] but the case was unsuccessful.
[19] In December 2013 he was appointed Deputy Prime Minister, filling the vacancy created by the resignation of Tom Marsters.
[25][26] Following his election loss Heather founded the Cook Islands United Party with former MP Nandi Glassie.