Academic appointed NZ First Chief of Staff

The Herald reports:

Political science lecturer and commentator Jon Johansson is the new chief of staff for New Zealand First.

Johansson is a key appointment following New Zealand First’s decision to sign a coalition agreement with Labour.

He replaces David Broome, who previously worked for Federated Farmers.

Winston Peters announced Johansson’s appointment as the party’s chief of staff at Parliament today.

 Johansson is a senior lecturer in comparative politics at the School of History, Philosophy, Political Science & International Relations at Victoria University of Wellington. His specialties include New Zealand and American politics, and political leadership.

It is rare for a political scientist/academic to take up a staff role in politics. It will be interesting to see how it goes.