Kristopher John Faafoi (born 23 June 1976) is a former New Zealand television journalist and Labour Party politician. He was the Member of Parliament for the Mana electorate from 2010 until 2020, when he became a list MP. Faafoi held a number of ministerial portfolios in the Sixth Labour Government from 2017, including Minister of Justice, Minister of Broadcasting and Media, and Minister of Immigration. He retired from politics in June 2022.
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Early life
Faafoi's parents originate from the Tokelau atoll of Fakaofo. He grew up in Christchurch. 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. Faafoi has stated that he did not have a typical Tokelau upbringing and does not speak fluent Tokelauan. In 1994 he was a member of the New Zealand Youth Parliament, selected to represent Sydenham MP Jim Anderton.
Professional career
Faafoi trained as a journalist and is a graduate of the New Zealand Broadcasting School at CPIT (now Ara Institute of Canterbury). He worked for TVNZ and the BBC as a reporter and as a political commentator. He joined Labour Party leader Phil Goff's office after the 2008 general election, as chief press secretary. He was also chair of the party's Rongotai Pacific branch.
Political career
Fifth National Government (2010–2017)
After the resignation of Mana MP Luamanuvao Winnie Laban on 10 August 2010,
Faafoi was chosen to represent the Labour Party in the resulting by-election, which was set for 20 November. Four people contested the selection, with Faafoi defeating business manager Michael Evans, barrister Peter Foster and communications adviser Josie Pagani. 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.
Faafoi won the by-election with 10,980 votes (46.4%), becoming the first MP of Tokelauan descent. Hekia Parata from the National Party was placed second and received 9,574 (41.6%), giving Faafoi a margin of 1,080 votes (4.82%). This was a significant decrease of Laban's majority of 6,155 (17.7%) at the 2008 general election. Faafoi more than doubled the margin in the 2011 election, and had a 7,953 votes margin in the 2014 election.
Sixth Labour Government (2017–2023)
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 a coalition government with New Zealand First and the Greens.
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 the 2016 Kaikōura earthquake and the 2017 Port Hills fires.
When Minister of Customs Meka Whaitiri "stood aside" in August 2018 over a "staffing matter" pending an investigation that same day, Faafoi assumed the Customs portfolio.
On 7 September 2018 Faafoi was appointed Minister of Broadcasting, Communications and Digital Media upon the resignation of Clare Curran. In 2018 his main political priority was "dealing with loan sharks".
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 as Minister of Civil Defence and Minister of Customs, which were assumed by Peeni Henare and Jenny Salesa respectively.
On 6 December 2019, Faafoi apologised to Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern for promising to speed up an immigration visa application for Opshop singer Jason Kerrison's father. Opposition National Party leader Simon Bridges claimed that Faafoi's actions could constitute a conflict of interest that breached Cabinet rules.
On 8 February 2020 he announced his intention to not seek re-election in Mana for the 2020 election; he will stand as a List MP instead. On 22 July, Faafoi became Minister of Immigration after Iain Lees-Galloway was dismissed following his admission of an inappropriate relationship with a former staffer in one of his agencies.
After politics
After leaving Parliament, Faafoi started a lobbying and public relations firm called Dialogue22, as chief executive. In January 2024 it was announced he would start in April as the chief executive of the Insurance Council of New Zealand.
Personal life
Kris lives in Wellington with his wife Mae and three sons. Faafoi was previously married to Gina Faafoi-Rogers. Their first son was born 2008.
His elder brother Jason is a TV presenter and musician. They made a documentary together about their family visiting Tokelau, which was released in 2004.