Faafoi in trouble

Newshub reports:

Unfulfilled promises made by Kris Faafoi to longtime mate Jason Kerrison have put not only their friendship on the line but the Broadcasting Minister’s job too. 

Text messages obtained by Newshub show Faafoi appears to have breached cabinet rules by offering to help Kerrison with his family’s declined immigration case.

An offer to “speed things up” was among reassurances made by the former Associate Immigration Minister to Kerrison who spoke to Newshub in October about his step-father’s partnership visa application being declined. 

Messages Faafoi sent to the singer of Kiwi band Opshop ask for details of the case before he says he has a plan and promises to talk to the right people. 

In one communication on Facebook, Kerrison sent a direct message to Faafoi drawing his attention to a post with Newshub’s article. 

Faafoi replied: “Hey bro – I will make a call on Monday. I know it is genuine as I know you travelled for the wedding a few years back. I will talk to the people that can speed things up.”  

On the face of it, this looks like very poor judgement by Faafoi.

If a Minister is approached about an immigration issue, they shouldn’t promise to speed things up.

Anything they do should be on the record. They could write a letter in their capacity as an MP stating they know the people involved and in their opinion it is genuine.

But instead we got this:

Facebook messages between Faafoi and Kerrison show them discussing the immigration case but he denies offering to do an immigration favour for a friend. 

But Faafoi asked Kerrsison to “Yes – can you please send me surname and immagration nz file number” – which Kerrison did before the conversation moved to texts.  

Faafoi and Kerrison also discussed the case in a facebook phone call.

When Kerrison thanks him, Faafoi replies “Whanau whanau brother”.  

In November the conversation moves to text. 

Faafoi assures Kerrison “Im on it bri… o (BRO)”

But then things go cold. 

Kerrison asks “Hi bro how’re we doing”… “Where are we at” and repeats back to Faafoi “Whanau whanau mate”. 

It’s after that on November 15 that Faafoi assures Kerrison “Bro, its moving. I can’t put anything in writing”.

To the contrary, it should all be in writing. There is nothing wrong with an MP advocating for a constituent, so long as they do it officially, not through back doors.

The Cabinet Manual – the Ministerial rule book – is clear, “a conflict may arise if people close to a Minister, such as .. whānau, or close associates, might derive, or be perceived as deriving .. personal, financial, or other benefit from a decision or action by the Minister or the government. 

It also says “it may not be appropriate for Ministers to participate in decision-making on

matters affecting family members, whānau, or close associates, for example, by:(a) attempting to intercede on their behalf on some official matter.” 

This is the other aspect. MPs, and especially Ministers, should be cautious about advocating for people they have a personal friendship with.

If I ever needed the assistance of an MP in some interaction with the Government, I would go to my local Labour MP, because there is no way their advocacy for me could be seen as improper. But if I went to a National MP, it could look like favours for a mate.

So overall really bad judgement by Kris Faafoi in this case. He either should have declined to be involved, or should have done it on the record – not through secret backroom maneuvers.

Also he wasn’t just any Minister, but the Associate Immigration Minister. In this situation he really should have recused himself entirely.