{{Short description|New Zealand politician}} {{Use dmy dates|date=September 2017}} {{use New Zealand English|date=April 2020}} {{Infobox officeholder | honorific_prefix = | name = Andrew Falloon | honorific_suffix = | image = | image_size = | caption = | constituency_MP = {{NZ electorate link|Rangitata}} | term_start = 23 September 2017 | term_end = 21 July 2020 | parliament = New Zealand | predecessor = Jo Goodhew | successor = Jo Luxton | majority = 6,331 | birth_date = {{birth date and age|1983|08|29|df=y}} | birth_place = Ashburton, New Zealand | death_date = | death_place = | party = National | other_party = ACT (formerly) | relations = | profession = | spouse = | children = | website = | footnotes = }} '''Andrew Hamilton Falloon''' (born 29 August 1983)<ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.timarucourier.co.nz/views/opinion-youth-are-doing-incredible-things/ |title=OPINION: Youth are doing incredible things |date=19 July 2018 |work=The Timaru Courier|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200130163314/http://www.timarucourier.co.nz/views/opinion-youth-are-doing-incredible-things/|archive-date=30 January 2020}}</ref> is a former New Zealand politician, serving as a Member of Parliament in the House of Representatives for the National Party from 2017 until his resignation in July 2020.
==Early life== Falloon was born in Ashburton in 1983. He received his education at Allenton Primary School before boarding at Christchurch Boys’ High School. He attended the University of Canterbury to study political science and economics.<ref name="Stuff political obit">{{cite news |last1=Mohanlall |first1=Samesh |title=National MP for Rangitata had a strong presence in community |url= https://www.stuff.co.nz/timaru-herald/news/300061423/national-mp-for-rangitata-had-a-strong-presence-in-community |accessdate=21 July 2020 |work=Stuff |date=20 July 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200720223629/https://www.stuff.co.nz/timaru-herald/news/300061423/national-mp-for-rangitata-had-a-strong-presence-in-community|archive-date=20 July 2020}}</ref>
==Political career== At the {{NZ election link year|2005}} and {{NZ election link year|2008}} elections Falloon stood as a list-only candidate for ACT New Zealand.<ref name="2005 successful">{{cite web |title=Party Lists of Successful Registered Parties |url= http://electionresults.govt.nz/electionresults_2005/e9/html/e9_part3_1.html |publisher=Electoral Commission |accessdate=22 September 2014|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200511073715/https://www.electionresults.govt.nz/electionresults_2005/e9/html/e9_part3_1.html|archive-date=11 May 2020}}</ref><ref name="2008 successful">{{cite web |title=Party Lists of Successful Registered Parties |url=http://www.electionresults.govt.nz/electionresults_2008/e9/html/e9_part3_1.html |publisher=Electoral Commission |accessdate=24 May 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200205084611/https://electionresults.govt.nz/electionresults_2008/e9/html/e9_part3_1.html|archive-date=5 February 2020}}</ref> From 2007, he worked as a researcher at Parliament, before working in the ministerial offices of Rodney Hide, Phil Heatley and Steven Joyce.<ref name="Stuff political obit" /><ref>{{Cite web|last=|first=|date=14 November 2017|title=Address in Reply--Andrew Falloon|url=https://www.parliament.nz/en/pb/hansard-debates/rhr/document/HansS_20171114_062700000/falloon-andrew|access-date=21 July 2020|website=Hansard}}</ref>
===Member of Parliament=== {{NZ parlbox header|align=left}} {{NZ parlbox |term=52nd |start={{NZ election link year|2017}} |end=2020 |list=61 |party=New Zealand National Party |electorate={{NZ electorate link|Rangitata}} }} {{End}} At the 2017 general election, Falloon contested the electorate of {{NZ electorate link|Rangitata}} as a candidate for the National Party. Rangitata had been held by National since the electorate was created in 2008.<ref>{{cite news|last=Hayward|first=Michael|url=http://www.stuff.co.nz/national/politics/91701602/rangitata-national-party-candidate-to-be-andrew-falloon|title=Rangitata National party candidate to be Andrew Falloon|work=Stuff|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200205084611/https://electionresults.govt.nz/electionresults_2008/e9/html/e9_part3_1.html|archive-date=5 February 2020|url-status=live}}</ref> Falloon won the electorate, defeating Labour candidate Jo Luxton by 6,331 votes.<ref>{{cite web |title=Rangitata - Official Result 2017 general elections |url=https://www.electionresults.govt.nz/electionresults_2017/electorate-details-42.html |publisher=Electoral Commission |accessdate=20 July 2020 |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20200115202341/https://electionresults.govt.nz/electionresults_2017/electorate-details-42.html |archivedate=15 January 2020}}</ref> With the National Party in Opposition, Falloon was appointed as the party's spokesperson on South Island regional development during Simon Bridges' leadership, and spokesperson for biosecurity under the leadership of both Todd Muller and Judith Collins.<ref name="Stuff political obit" />
In 2020, Falloon voted for the Abortion Legislation Bill, which decriminalised abortion.<ref>{{cite web |title=Abortion Legislation Bill — Third Reading |url=https://www.parliament.nz/en/pb/hansard-debates/rhr/combined/HansDeb_20200318_20200318_24 |work=Parliamentary Debates (Hansard) |publisher=New Zealand Parliament |accessdate=21 July 2020 |language=en}}</ref> He supported the End of Life Choice Bill, which aims to legalise voluntary euthanasia.<ref>{{cite news |last1=Littlewood |first1=Matthew |title=Andrew Falloon, Jo Luxton will vote in favour of End of Life Choice Bill |url=https://www.stuff.co.nz/timaru-herald/news/112435717/andrew-falloon-jo-luxton-will-vote-in-favour-of-end-of-life-choice-bill |accessdate=21 July 2020 |work=The Timaru Herald |date=4 May 2019 |language=en|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200720223954/https://www.stuff.co.nz/timaru-herald/news/112435717/andrew-falloon-jo-luxton-will-vote-in-favour-of-end-of-life-choice-bill|archive-date=20 July 2020}}</ref>
====Resignation==== On 20 July 2020, Falloon announced that he would not seek re-election at the 2020 general election, citing personal reasons following the suicide of a friend.<ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.nzherald.co.nz/nz/news/article.cfm?c_id=1&objectid=12349451 |title=National MP Andrew Falloon quits amid 'significant mental health issues' |date=20 July 2020 |work=The New Zealand Herald |accessdate=20 July 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200720075633/https://www.nzherald.co.nz/nz/news/article.cfm?c_id=1&objectid=12349451|archive-date=20 July 2020}}</ref> It was later reported that he had sent a pornographic image to a 19-year-old female university student.<ref>{{cite news|last1=Johnston|first1=Kirsty|last2=Wade|first2=Amelia|date=20 July 2020|title=National MP Andrew Falloon quits after sending sexual image to female university student|work=The New Zealand Herald|url=https://www.nzherald.co.nz/nz/news/article.cfm?c_id=1&objectid=12349504|url-status=live|accessdate=20 July 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200720075927/https://www.nzherald.co.nz/nz/news/article.cfm?c_id=1&objectid=12349504|archive-date=20 July 2020}}</ref> The parents of the young woman emailed this information to prime minister Jacinda Ardern; Ardern's chief of staff notified National Party leader Judith Collins. Police investigated the matter but decided that sending the image did not meet the threshold for prosecution.<ref>{{cite news |last1=Manch |first1=Thomas |last2=Comer |first2=Rachel |title=National MP Andrew Falloon quits politics, alleged to have sent indecent image to young woman |url=https://www.stuff.co.nz/national/politics/300061190/national-mp-andrew-falloon-quits-politics-alleged-to-have-sent-indecent-image-to-school-girl |accessdate=20 July 2020 |work=Stuff |date=20 July 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200720085828/https://www.stuff.co.nz/national/politics/300061190/national-mp-andrew-falloon-quits-politics-alleged-to-have-sent-indecent-image-to-school-girl|archive-date=20 July 2020}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |title=National MP Andrew Falloon quits politics amid indecent image allegations |url=https://www.rnz.co.nz/news/political/421642/national-mp-andrew-falloon-quits-politics-amid-indecent-image-allegations |accessdate=21 July 2020 |work=RNZ |date=21 July 2020}}</ref> According to ''The New Zealand Herald'', Falloon claimed that he had left his phone unattended during the party and that one of his acquaintances had sent the image. Despite insisting that he had not sent the message, Falloon reportedly offered his resignation to Collins, which she accepted.<ref>{{cite news |title=More details revealed in National MP Andrew Falloon scandal |url=https://www.nzherald.co.nz/nz/news/article.cfm?c_id=1&objectid=12349534 |accessdate=20 July 2020 |work=The New Zealand Herald |date=20 July 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200720090325/https://www.nzherald.co.nz/nz/news/article.cfm?c_id=1&objectid=12349534|archive-date=20 July 2020}}</ref>
On 21 July 2020, Falloon resigned as a Member of Parliament effective immediately. His resignation accompanied media reports that he had sent two inappropriate images to two other women. Collins also stated that she "no longer trusted his story" of the incident with the first woman and "had lost confidence in him."<ref>{{cite news |last1=Cooke |first1=Henry |title=Andrew Falloon sent sexually explicit photos to another young woman |url=https://www.stuff.co.nz/national/politics/300061529/andrew-falloon-sent-sexually-explicit-photos-to-another-young-woman |accessdate=20 July 2020 |work=Stuff |date=21 July 2020 |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20200720222603/https://www.stuff.co.nz/national/politics/300061529/andrew-falloon-sent-sexually-explicit-photos-to-another-young-woman |archivedate=20 July 2020}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.nzherald.co.nz/nz/news/article.cfm?c_id=1&objectid=12349538 |title=New sex-text claims: National MP Andrew Falloon quits politics immediately; Judith Collins says she 'no longer trusts his story' |date=21 July 2020 |work= The New Zealand Herald |accessdate=21 July 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200720221402/https://www.nzherald.co.nz/nz/news/article.cfm?c_id=1&objectid=12349538|archive-date=20 July 2020}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |last1=O'Brien |first1=Tova |title='Pattern of behaviour' emerging: Further allegations of lewd images sent by disgraced ex-National MP Andrew Falloon |url=https://www.newshub.co.nz/home/politics/2020/07/pattern-of-behaviour-emerging-further-allegations-of-lewd-images-sent-by-disgraced-ex-national-mp-andrew-falloon.html |accessdate=20 July 2020 |work=Newshub |date=20 July 2020 |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20200720222852/https://www.newshub.co.nz/home/politics/2020/07/pattern-of-behaviour-emerging-further-allegations-of-lewd-images-sent-by-disgraced-ex-national-mp-andrew-falloon.html |archivedate=20 July 2020}}</ref> After his resignation a total of “at least five" women have reported similar behaviour by Falloon.<ref>{{cite news |last1=Small |first1=Zane |title=Another woman complains about former National MP Andrew Falloon |url=https://www.newshub.co.nz/home/politics/2020/07/at-least-five-complainants-against-ex-national-mp-andrew-falloon-judith-collins.html |accessdate=23 July 2020 |work=Newshub |date=23 July 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200723032557/https://www.newshub.co.nz/home/politics/2020/07/at-least-five-complainants-against-ex-national-mp-andrew-falloon-judith-collins.html|archive-date=23 July 2020}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |last1=Walls |first1=Jason |title=Andrew Falloon sex-text scandal: A fifth woman comes forward with complaint against disgraced MP |url=https://www.nzherald.co.nz/nz/news/article.cfm?c_id=1&objectid=12350394 |accessdate=23 July 2020 |work=New Zealand Herald |date=23 July 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200723032742/https://www.nzherald.co.nz/nz/news/article.cfm?c_id=1&objectid=12350394|archive-date=23 July 2020}}</ref> In response to complaints that Falloon had sent unsolicited explicit messages to multiple women, the New Zealand Police launched an investigation into the former National MP,<ref>{{cite news |last1=Manch |first1=Thomas |title=Police launch investigation into former National MP Andrew Falloon after allegations he sent explicit messages to young women |url=https://www.stuff.co.nz/national/politics/122228519/police-launch-investigation-into-former-national-mp-andrew-falloon-after-allegations-he-sent-explicit-messages-to-young-women |accessdate=23 July 2020 |work=Stuff |date=23 July 2020 |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20200723032930/https://www.stuff.co.nz/national/politics/122228519/police-launch-investigation-into-former-national-mp-andrew-falloon-after-allegations-he-sent-explicit-messages-to-young-women |archivedate=23 July 2020}}</ref> but at the conclusion of the investigation, Police decided not to press charges against him.<ref>{{cite web | url=https://www.rnz.co.nz/news/national/433134/no-charges-against-former-national-mp-andrew-falloon-over-unsolicited-images | title=No charges against former National MP Andrew Falloon over unsolicited images | website=Radio New Zealand | date=18 December 2020 }}</ref>
==References== {{reflist}}
{{s-start}} {{s-par|nz}} {{s-bef|before=Jo Goodhew}} {{s-ttl|title=Member of Parliament for Rangitata|years=2017–2020}} {{s-aft|after=Jo Luxton}} {{s-end}} {{subject bar|auto=y|d=y|Politics|New Zealand}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Falloon, Andrew}} Category:1983 births Category:Living people Category:New Zealand National Party MPs Category:ACT New Zealand politicians Category:Members of the New Zealand House of Representatives Category:Unsuccessful candidates in the 2005 New Zealand general election Category:Unsuccessful candidates in the 2008 New Zealand general election Category:Candidates in the 2017 New Zealand general election Category:New Zealand MPs for South Island electorates