Matthew Hooton
STRATEGIC CONSULTANT
Matthew Hooton is one of New Zealand’s most experienced and best-connected strategic consultants, public-policy advisors and lobbyists.
He draws on that background as the country's leading centre-right political commentator and conference speaker since 2004.
Matthew is completing his PhD in philosophy at the University of Auckland on Groundwork & Principles of Applied Conservatism.
He also represents the Government of Mongolia in New Zealand as Honorary Consul.
CONSULTANCY
Matthew Hooton assists selected clients in understanding New Zealand's political, economic and commercial environment; to achieve public policy and other political and commercial outcomes; and with risk, business-continuity and crisis-management projects.
Over 30 years, he has worked with New Zealand and Australia’s largest companies, industry organisations, government ministers and agencies, political parties and candidates, and ultra-high-net-worth individuals.
Beyond New Zealand and Australia, his clients operate out of East Asia, North America, the UK and Europe.
Matthew has extensive experience in the banking, telecommunications, agriculture, forestry, fishing, mining, heavy manufacturing, ports, electricity, professional services, arts and Māori-economy sectors.
He is well connected with the most senior figures in all three parties in New Zealand's centre-right National-Act-NZ First Coalition Government and with the Opposition Labour Party. He advised Wayne Brown’s successful campaign and transition to become Mayor of Auckland, New Zealand’s largest city by far.
Matthew worked with every Australian bank; New Zealand's largest company, the Rank Group; Rio Tinto; major East Asian ports; and the largest and most commercially successful Māori tribes. He assisted with regulatory matters for Zespri and the creation of 2degrees.
From 2000-2002, he was part of the project team which achieved government, parliamentary, shareholder and public support for the creation of Fonterra, New Zealand’s second-largest company.
Matthew's early career was as a press secretary and speechwriter in New Zealand’s reformist Bolger Government in the 1990s, working in the education, agriculture, forestry and international trade portfolios.
PUBLIC SPEAKING
Matthew Hooton regularly presents to conferences and other events for private-sector, public-sector and charitable organisations.
These range from private group discussions with senior officials, executives, investors and other small groups, through to full conference presentations and panels.
Investment banks, corporates, government agencies and peak industry organisations seek Matthew’s insights for their own benefit and for those of their clients and members.
Matthew will also agree to do a small number of selected after-dinner style events each year.
Recent sample events:
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Investment Bank Client Group, New Zealand, 20 September 2023 (off the record)
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Retirement Villages Association New Zealand, Annual Conference, Denarau, Fiji, 6-10 August 2023 (on the record)
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Investment Bank Client Group, New Zealand, 5 April 2023 (off the record)
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Northern Club, Auckland, 16 March 2023 (on the record, members only)
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Investment Advisors Client Group, New Zealand, 3 November 2022 (off the record)
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Retirement Living & Aged Care Annual Summit, Christchurch, 21-25 August 2022 (on the record)
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Headmasters and Head Boys Conference, Association of Boys’ Schools in New Zealand, Auckland, 4-6 May 2022
(on the record)
Matthew also spoke in 2023 to the Scholars' Assembly at his old high-school, Auckland Grammar School. His speech, which drew national attention, can be found here.
JOURNALISM
Matthew Hooton is Australasia’s best-known and respected centre-right commentator on New Zealand politics and its political economy, including as one of the best-read weekly columnists for the New Zealand Herald.
He also writes regularly for Auckland Metro, The Australian and, more speculatively, on Patreon. He prefers his work to appear behind a paywall.
In addition, Matthew is frequently asked to provide background commentary and, on occasion, on-the-record comments to international publications and news outlets, such as The Economist.
In New Zealand, Matthew has appeared on all major media, including TVNZ Newshub, NewstalkZB, and RNZ, as well as more specialist outlets.
Recent commentary:
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"Christopher Luxon’s Government is distracted on the economy – and bigger problems lie ahead", NZ Herald, 20 September 2024
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“Labour's Hipkins Problem Worsens”, Patreon, 17 September 2024
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"Welcome to the next Argentina", Metro, Winter 2024
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"Jacinda Ardern was an accidental Prime Minister … more vacuous than dangerous”, The Australian, 21 January 2023
ACADEMIC
Matthew Hooton’s academic interests include metaphysics, metaethics, normative ethics, international relations and economics.
He is currently completing his PhD in Philosophy at the University of Auckland on the topic is “Groundwork & Principles of Applied Conservatism”.
He has a Master of Arts in Philosophy from King’s College London, a Bachelor of Arts (Honours) in Philosophy, a Graduate Diploma in Arts in Philosophy and Politics & International Relations, and a Bachelor of Commerce in Economics, all from the University of Auckland.
Selected writing:
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"A Conservative Analysis of the Proposed Codification of the Principles of the Treaty of Waitangi", 2023, exposure draft, cited favourably by Dame Claudia Orange in her 2024 Turnbull Lecture.
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"Covid 19 coronavirus: Save lives, but at any cost? That's Jacinda Ardern's awful dilemma", 2020, NZ Herald, April 3.
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“The Queen Is Dead! Long Live the President?”, 2018, The Round Table 107 (4): 525–28. doi:10.1080/00358533.2018.1494693.
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"A Philosophy of Regret: Replacing Regret with the Four Brahmaviharas", 2018, Honour's Dissertation, University of Auckland.
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"Understanding Duhkha", 2017, Honour's Paper, University of Auckland.
Matthew’s academic CV can be found here.
MONGOLIA
Matthew Hooton is the Government of Mongolia’s Honorary Consul in New Zealand.
Working with the Mongolian Embassy in Canberra, his role is to help build trade, tourism, investment, cultural, scientific, educational and people-to-people links between New Zealand and Mongolia.
He can also help Mongolian citizens requiring assistance in their dealings with the New Zealand Government and its agencies.
