Hon Kris Faafoi
Minister of Broadcasting
Kris was born in 1976 to recent immigrants to Christchurch from Tokelau. His mother worked in a manufacturing plant and his father trained, then worked as a primary school teacher.
Originally following his father's path into teaching, Kris left his university career after a couple of years to train in journalism at the Broadcasting School in Christchurch. Kris went on to work for TVNZ and eventually the BBC as a television journalist.
Kris moved sideways into politics, working as Phil Goff's press secretary before becoming an MP in the Mana electorate by-election in 2010. In the current Labour-led coalition government, Kris has become Minister of Commerce and Consumer Affairs, Broadcasting, Communications and Digital Media, and Government Digital Services as well as Associate Minister of Housing (Public Housing).
Kris lives in Porirua with his partner and three sons.