Arthur James Faulkner (1921–85) was a New Zealand politician of the Labour Party

New Zealand Labour Party

The New Zealand Labour Party is a New Zealand political party. It describes itself as centre-left and socially progressive and has been one of the two primary parties of New Zealand politics since 1935....

.

Member of Parliament

He stood unsuccessfully for the Franklin

Franklin (New Zealand electorate)

Franklin was a rural New Zealand parliamentary electorate. It existed from 1861 to 1996 during four periods.-Population centres:The original electorate from 1861 to 1881 included the South Auckland towns of Papatoetoe, Papakura, Pukekohe and Waiuku, and west of Waiuku to the West Coast...

 electorate in 1951 and the North Shore

North Shore (New Zealand electorate)

North Shore is a New Zealand Parliamentary electorate returning one Member of Parliament to the New Zealand House of Representatives. The current MP for North Shore is Wayne Mapp MP of the National Party...

 electorate in 1954. He then stood for and won the Roskill

Roskill (New Zealand electorate)

Roskill was a New Zealand parliamentary electorate, from 1919 to 1996.-Population centres:The electorate is in the western suburbs of Auckland, New Zealand.-History:...

 electorate in 1957, and held the seat to 1981

New Zealand general election, 1981

The 1981 New Zealand general election was a nationwide vote to determine the shape of the 40th New Zealand Parliament. It saw the governing National Party, led by Robert Muldoon, win a third term in office, although the opposition Labour Party, led by Bill Rowling, actually won the largest share of...

, when he retired.

He was a Cabinet Minister

New Zealand Cabinet

The Cabinet of New Zealand functions as the policy and decision-making body of the executive branch within the New Zealand government system...

, and was Minister of Defence

Minister of Defence (New Zealand)

The Minister of Defence is a minister in the government of New Zealand with responsibility for the New Zealand armed forces and the Ministry of Defence.The present Minister is Dr...

 from 1972 to 1974 in the Third Labour Government

Third Labour Government of New Zealand

The Third Labour Government of New Zealand was the government of New Zealand from 1972 to 1975. During its time in office, it carried out a wide range of reforms in areas such as overseas trade, farming, public works, energy generation, local government, health, the arts, sport and recreation,...

. He was President of the Labour Party from 1976 to 1978.