Faafoi gets ‘important’ portfolio
Kris Faafoi’s promotion to Minister of Broadcasting, Communications and Digital Media could give him a seat in Cabinet, a political commentator says.
Faafoi was given the extra responsibilities by Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern yesterday after Clare Curran resigned from her ministerial roles including Minister of Broadcasting, Communications and Digital Media, following a series of mistakes.
Since taking office Curran failed to properly declare two meetings, one with former Radio NZ head of news Carol Hirschfeld in December and another with futurist and entrepreneur Derek Handley, who was applying for a chief technology officer role with the Government.
She was demoted from Cabinet last month after it emerged she had failed to declare the meeting with Handley. Her resignation yesterday followed a bad week in Parliament, in which she bumbled her way through an explanation as to why she used her personal email account for Government business. Before yesterday Faafoi’s portfolios included Civil Defence Minister and Commerce and Consumer Affairs Minister. He is also Associate Minister of Immigration.
Massey University associate professor Grant Duncan said ‘‘it would be desirable’’ for the prime minister, the Government, Faafoi, and the entire broadcasting sector if Faafoi was given a seat in Cabinet.
Cabinet is made up of a group of senior government ministers who make major decisions about governing the country. It usually has about 20 members.
Currently there are 19 members after Curran’s seat was not filled following her demotion.
The Broadcasting Minister is responsible for overseeing Crown entities TVNZ, Radio NZ and New Zealand on Air.
Duncan said it was an important portfolio that deserved a place in Cabinet. Generally ministers in Cabinet had more influence when it came to where government money was allocated before budgets were announced, he said.
For this reason Radio NZ listeners and employees would be particularly keen for Faafoi to have seat in Cabinet, he said.
‘‘Radio NZ has a proud record of being the Government’s critic and conscience. Broadcasting as a public function is incredibly important.
‘‘It’s part of our democracy.’’
Faafoi had proven to be a competent minister while Curran had not performed well, Duncan said.
Having a well-performing minister was important to the success of a portfolio, he said.
The Government has committed to increasing annual funding for public media by at least $38 million during its first term.
Radio NZ had a funding freeze from 2007 right through until the National government’s final Budget last year, when it was given a $2.84m annual increase to its $32m annual budget, for each of the following five years.
Myles Thomas, director of lobby group Better Public Media, said Faafoi was highly-regarded in the media industry both as a former 1 News reporter and from his time as Opposition spokesperson.
He said Faafoi deserved a seat in Cabinet and the prime minister should recognise the importance of media by reinstating the role of minister of broadcasting, communications and digital media into Cabinet. ‘‘At this juncture, the PM needs to assure stakeholders that New Zealand media policy will be prioritised, and adequately funded to provide the much-needed benefits for all audiences and to democracy,’’ Thomas said.
Faafoi’s appointment would be unlikely have an impact on broadcasting policy but Thomas hoped it would result in more funding for media.