Macindoe was born in Auckland New Zealand where he was a boarder at King's College and later attended Otago University, where he studied for a BA in History. Macindoe was a secondary teacher for 17 years, including six years as Deputy Principal at St. Peter's School, Cambridge. He has also held roles in retail, agriculture and as a prison tutor. In 2009, Macindoe completed his second degree; an LLB from the University of Waikato. Immediately prior to his election, he was Chief Executive of the Music and Art Waikato Trust, based in Hamilton.
Political career
In Macindoe unsuccessfully stood for United New Zealand in the Karapiro electorate. He also unsuccessfully stood for the National Party in 1999, 2002, and 2005, for which he was ranked 52nd, 39th, and 62nd respectively. Macindoe held numerous roles within the New Zealand National Party, including Chairman of the Hamilton West electorate and four years as deputy chair of National's Central North Island regional organisation, and two years as the Central North Island Regional Policy Chair.
In the 2008 election, Macindoe won the Hamilton West electorate by a margin of 1,618 votes, defeating incumbent Labour MP Martin Gallagher. During his first term within Parliament, Macindoe was the Deputy Chair of the Regulations Review Select Committee, and a member of the Social Services Select Committee. In his first term, he was the Co-Chair of the Caucus Education Committee, and a member of several other caucus committees. In the 2011 New Zealand general election, Macindoe again won Hamilton West, defeating Labour Party list MP Sue Moroney by a margin of 4,418 votes. In 2013, he was selected as the National Party's Junior Whip, being joined by Third Whip Jami-Lee Ross and Chief WhipLouise Upston In the 2014 New Zealand general election, Macindoe defeated Moroney with a majority of 5,784 votes to remain Hamilton West MP, and was named as the National Party's chief whip. In new Prime Minister Bill English's second ministerial reshuffle, Macindoe was named as a Minister outside of cabinet. Macindoe served as Minister of Customs, Associate Minister of Education and Associate Minister of Transport until the formation of the Sixth Labour Government of New Zealand in October 2017. In the 2017 New Zealand general election, Macindoe won Hamilton West, again increasing his majority to 7,731, defeating Labour Party candidate Dr Gaurav Sharma. He is currently the National Party's Spokesperson for ACC, and Associate Foreign Affairs and Trade Spokesperson. In late April 2020, Macindoe drew media attention and public criticism when he joked about pushing women off balconies during a live-stream session of the Justice select committee during the COVID-19 pandemic in New Zealand. Macindoe subsequently apologized for his remarks but insisted he was joking.
Personal life and community involvement
He is married to Anne Macindoe, and they have two daughters. Outside Parliament, Macindoe is a parishioner at Holy Trinity Anglican Church, Forest Lake; and he is actively involved with a large number of organisations within his electorate including Orchestra Central Trustee, Waikato Chamber of Commerce, Hamilton Citizens' Band Society Vice-President, Epilepsy Waikato Charitable Trust, and NZ Agricultural Fieldays Society. Macindoe served on the boards of two local schools. Subsequently, he was chairperson of Waikato Diocesan School's PTA for four years. For nearly five years he served as a trustee for Free FM. He also participated on the committee that planned Hamilton's 150th anniversary celebrations in 2014. Previously, he chaired the Waikato/Bay of Plenty Regional Orchestra Steering Committee, and he served on the steering committee that culminated in the establishment of Sistema Waikato. He was a strong supporter of the Hamilton Hydrotherapy Pool Trust, even having his hair dyed blue in a successful fundraiser for the project in 2008. His leisure activities include tramping and fishing, and he is an avid follower of cricket, rugby, and the performing arts.
Political views
Same-sex marriage
Macindoe opposed the Marriage Amendment Act 2013, which legalized same-sex marriage in New Zealand. In Parliament, Macindoe cited his committed Christian beliefs in supporting his position, arguing that same-sex relationships could "never be regarded as true marriage" because they were "intrinsically different", and that "the nature of marriage should not be interfered with".
