Kris Faafoi | |
|---|---|
 Faafoi in 2020 | |
| 50thMinister of Justice | |
| In office 6 November 2020 – 14 June 2022 | |
| Prime Minister | Jacinda Ardern |
| Preceded by | Andrew Little |
| Succeeded by | Kiri Allan |
| 26thMinister for Broadcasting and Media | |
| In office 7 September 2018 – 14 June 2022 | |
| Prime Minister | Jacinda Ardern |
| Preceded by | Clare Curran |
| Succeeded by | Willie Jackson |
| 57thMinister of Immigration | |
| In office 22 July 2020 – 14 June 2022 | |
| Prime Minister | Jacinda Ardern |
| Preceded by | Iain Lees-Galloway |
| Succeeded by | Michael Wood |
| 13thMinister of Commerce and Consumer Affairs | |
| In office 26 October 2017 – 6 November 2020 | |
| Prime Minister | Jacinda Ardern |
| Preceded by | Jacqui Dean |
| Succeeded by | David Clark |
| Minister for Government Digital Services | |
| In office 27 June 2019 – 6 November 2020 | |
| Prime Minister | Jacinda Ardern |
| Preceded by | Megan Woods |
| Succeeded by | David Clark(as Minister for the Digital Economy and Communications) |
| 25thMinister of Civil Defence | |
| In office 26 October 2017 – 27 June 2019 | |
| Prime Minister | Jacinda Ardern |
| Preceded by | Nathan Guy |
| Succeeded by | Peeni Henare |
| 64thMinister of Customs | |
| In office 20 September 2018 – 27 June 2019 | |
| Prime Minister | Jacinda Ardern |
| Preceded by | Meka Whaitiri |
| Succeeded by | Jenny Salesa |
| Member of theNew Zealand Parliament forLabourparty list | |
| In office 17 October 2020 – 23 July 2022 | |
| Succeeded by | Dan Rosewarne[n 1] |
| Member of theNew Zealand Parliament forMana | |
| In office 20 November 2010 – 17 October 2020 | |
| Preceded by | Winnie Laban |
| Succeeded by | Barbara Edmonds |
| Personal details | |
| Born | (1976-06-23)23 June 1976 (age 49) |
| Nationality | New Zealand |
| Political party | Labour |
| Spouse | Mae Puller (married 16/08/24) |
| Children | 3 |
| Profession | Journalist |
| Website | beehive.govt.nz |
Kristopher John Faafoi (born 23 June 1976) is a former New Zealand television journalist andLabour Party politician. He was the Member of Parliament for theMana electorate from 2010 until 2020, when he became alist MP. Faafoi held a number of ministerial portfolios in theSixth Labour Government from 2017, includingMinister of Justice,Minister of Broadcasting and Media, andMinister of Immigration. He retired from politics in June 2022.
Faafoi's parents originate from theTokelau atoll ofFakaofo. He grew up inChristchurch.[1] His father was sent to New Zealand to study at secondary school, and later became a primary-school teacher. His mother came to New Zealand as part of a repatriation scheme, and later worked in a factory.[1] Faafoi has stated that he did not have a typical Tokelau upbringing and does not speak fluentTokelauan.[1] In 1994 he was a member of theNew Zealand Youth Parliament, selected to representSydenham MPJim Anderton.[2]
Faafoi trained as a journalist and is a graduate of the New Zealand Broadcasting School at CPIT (nowAra Institute of Canterbury).[3] He worked forTVNZ and theBBC as a reporter and as a political commentator.[1][4][5] He joined Labour Party leaderPhil Goff's office after the2008 general election, serving as chief press secretary. He was also chair of the party's Rongotai Pacific branch.[6]
| Years | Term | Electorate | List | Party | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2010–2011 | 49th | Mana | Labour | ||
| 2011–2014 | 50th | Mana | 41 | Labour | |
| 2014–2017 | 51st | Mana | none | Labour | |
| 2017–2020 | 52nd | Mana | 20 | Labour | |
| 2020–2022 | 53rd | List | 15 | Labour | |
After the resignation of Mana MP LuamanuvaoWinnie Laban on 10 August 2010,[7] Faafoi was chosen to represent the Labour Party in theresulting by-election, which was set for 20 November.[8][9] Four people contested the selection, with Faafoi defeating business manager Michael Evans, barrister Peter Foster and communications adviser Josie Pagani.[5] During the campaign, he was criticised for a campaign brochure stating, "I had a great start because my family settled in Mana," implying that he grew up in the North Island electorate despite being raised in Christchurch in the South Island.[10]
Faafoi won the by-election with 10,980 votes (46.4%), becoming the first MP of Tokelauan descent.[10]Hekia Parata from theNational Party was placed second and received 9,574 (41.6%), giving Faafoi a margin of 1,080 votes (4.82%).[11] This was a significant decrease of Laban's majority of 6,155 (17.7%) at the2008 general election.[12] Faafoi more than doubled the margin in the2011 election,[13] and had a 7,953 votes margin in the2014 election.[14]
Kris Faafoi was elected as a Minister of Civil Defence,Commerce and Consumer Affairs and Associate Minister of Immigration, outside Cabinet by the Labour Party caucus following Labour's formation of acoalition government withNew Zealand First and theGreens.[15][16]
On 30 August 2017, Faafoi announced that the Government was investing NZ$5.2 million into supporting "rapid response teams" to support communities in emergencies. The boost in funding was the result of a critical Ministerial Technical Advisory Group's (TAG) review of the Government's unsatisfactory responses to the2016 Kaikōura earthquake and the2017 Port Hills fires.[17][18]
When Minister of CustomsMeka Whaitiri "stood aside" in August 2018 over a "staffing matter" pending an investigation that same day, Faafoi assumed the Customs portfolio.[19][20]
On 7 September 2018 Faafoi was appointed Minister of Broadcasting, Communications and Digital Media upon the resignation of Clare Curran.[21] In 2018 his main political priority was "dealing with loan sharks".[1]
On 27 June 2019, Faafoi was appointed Minister of Government Digital Services, complementing his role as Minister of Broadcasting, Communications and Digital Media. He also assumed the position of Associate Minister for Public Housing. Faafoi relinquished his position asMinister of Civil Defence andMinister of Customs, which were assumed byPeeni Henare andJenny Salesa respectively.[22][23]
On 6 December 2019, Faafoi apologised to Prime MinisterJacinda Ardern for promising to speed up an immigration visa application forOpshop singerJason Kerrison's father. OppositionNational Party leaderSimon Bridges claimed that Faafoi's actions could constitute a conflict of interest that breached Cabinet rules.[24][25][26]
On 8 February 2020 he announced his intention to not seek re-election in Mana for the 2020 election; he will stand as aList MP instead.[27] On 22 July, Faafoi becameMinister of Immigration afterIain Lees-Galloway was dismissed following his admission of an inappropriate relationship with a former staffer in one of his agencies.[28]
On 4 September, Faafoi, in his capacity as Immigration Minister, extended the visas of visitors due to expire before the end of October by five months. In addition, temporary migrants unable to leave New Zealand due to international travel restrictions caused by theCOVID-19 pandemic will be granted a new two-month COVID-19 short-term visa.[29]
During the2020 general election, Faafoi was re-elected on the party list.[30] In early November 2020, Faafoi was appointed asMinister of Justice, while retaining his "Broadcasting and Media" and Immigration portfolios.[31]
On 21 December 2020, Faafoi, in his capacity as Immigration Minister, announced a six-month extension for employer-assisted work and working holiday visa holders along with their partners and children in order to address the country's labour shortage. In addition, a 12-month stand-down period for low-paid Essential Skills visa holders working in New Zealand for three years was suspended until January 2022.[32][33]
In July 2021, Justice Minister Faafoi introduced theConversion Practices Prohibition Legislation Bill, which seeks to banconversion therapy.[34][35] The Bill passed its third reading on 15 February 2022.[36]
In mid–November 2021, Faafoi introducedlegislation to repeal theSentencing and Parole Reform Act 2010 (the so-called "Three Strikes Law"). He described the "three-strikes law" as "archaic, unfair, and ineffective" and claimed it had led to "absurd and perverse" outcomes. While the proposed repeal legislation was supported by the Labour and Green parties, the opposition National andACT parties opposed repealing the "three strikes law."[37][38]
On 13 June 2022, it was announced that Faafoi would resign his seat in Parliament soon in order to spend more time with his family, particularly his school-aged youngest son. Faafoi had wanted to resign during the 2020 general election but Ardern had convinced him to stay for another year.[39] His resignation triggered a cabinet reshuffle within theSixth Labour Government, in which Faafoi's immigration, justice and broadcasting portfolios were assumed byMichael Wood,Kiri Allan, andWillie Jackson, respectively.[40] On 16 June, Faafoi was granted retention of the title "The Honourable" for life, in recognition of his term as a member of theExecutive Council.[41] Faafoi's resignation from Parliament took effect on 23 July.[42]
After leaving Parliament, Faafoi started alobbying andpublic relations firm called Dialogue22, serving as chief executive.[43][44] In January 2024 it was announced he would start in April as the chief executive of the Insurance Council of New Zealand.[45]
Kris lives in Wellington with his wife Mae and three sons.[4][46] Faafoi was previously married to Gina Faafoi-Rogers. Their son George was born 2008.[10][47]
His elder brother Jason is a TV presenter and musician.[48][49] They made a documentary together about their family visiting Tokelau, which was released in 2004.[1]
| New Zealand Parliament | ||
|---|---|---|
| Preceded by | Member of Parliament for Mana 2010–2020 | Succeeded by |
| Political offices | ||
| Preceded by | Minister of Civil Defence 2017–2019 | Succeeded by |
| Preceded by | Minister of Commerce and Consumer Affairs 2017–2020 | Succeeded by |
| Preceded by | Minister of Broadcasting, Communications and Digital Media 2018–2022 | Succeeded by |
| Preceded by | Minister of Customs 2018–2019 | Succeeded by |
| Preceded by | Minister of Immigration 2020–2022 | Succeeded by |
| Party political offices | ||
| Preceded by | Senior Whip of the Labour Party 2016–2017 | Succeeded by |
