Former National, ACT adviser appointed editor of Wellington newspaper covering Parliament

Matthew Hooton, a former strategist and adviser to the National Party and ACT, has been appointed editor-in-chief of The Post and Sunday Star-Times, replacing Tracy Watkins. The Post is Wellington's main daily newspaper covering Parliament and government. Hooton's political ties raise questions about editorial independence, particularly given The Post's influence on Wellington's political culture and coverage of governments those parties have led or joined.