Andrew Dickens: My thoughts on the new Post editor

Author: Andrew Dickens,
Publish Date: Tue, 16 Jun 2026, 6:20am

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There are a lot of people who think the media are a left-wing lobby group.

And they think Stuff is one of the leftiest of them all.

So, explain to me why Stuff has just appointed Mathew Hooton as their new editor, apparently after he was shoulder tapped by Sinead Boucher.

Yesterday the Post reported this about their new editor.

"Hooton's CV includes being a Young Nat, a press secretary in the Bolger Government, a strategist for National during the Don Brash years ... an adviser for ACT, a strategic consultant for iwi, banks, most corporate sectors, government departments, and the ultra-rich - and a short-lived stint as Wayne Brown's adviser."

Totally socialist. Not.

But if you read Matthew and if you meet Matthew, you'll know he has one of the clearest understandings of how power works in this country both left and right politically. And at a corporate level. And in Te Ao Maori.

People in this country are far too quick to generalise. They don't understand the difference between left and right often confusing them between conservative and liberal and the difference between demand side and supply side economics.

I've grown frustrated at hearing supposedly rightist people demanding government intervention and not realising they're straying out of their lane.

So, Matthew I think is a genius move so let the ructions begin.