In his own words: Paul Henry on why he wants to be an MP

ACT leader David Seymour unveils Paul Henry as the party's newest candidate.

Paul Henry has never been short of opinions — now he wants a vote on them. The divisive broadcaster and former TVNZ board member today explained, in his own words at a media conference, why he's joining the ACT Party ticket.

"I will just answer what I think is probably the most burning question: why?

I mean, standing before you is an uncommonly handsome older gentleman who clearly doesn't need a new career. So, why would I do this?

Put simply, my wife and I have 10 grandchildren between us.

My youngest daughter Bella has a baby — baby girl Dala — and twin boys, who celebrated their second birthday about a week ago. As I looked at them, as someone who cares very much about this country and has always been interested in politics, I thought: what is the chance that as you grow a little older, you will have the same opportunities that your grandfather had when he was growing up in paradise?

What are the chances that you will be growing up in a country that champions success, that champions individual responsibility, that has prepared a platform on which you can easily succeed and encourage others to succeed?

Polarising broadcaster Paul Henry confirms ACT candidacy for upcoming election - Watch on TVNZ+

Paul Henry on Every Second Counts in the 1980s.

What are the odds — versus what are the odds you'll be brought up in a country with a ballooning debt that has missed its opportunities to sort that debt out and sort itself out.

Last month, I was in the United States, and when I'm there, I always have time to think.

And I was thinking, as I was becoming slightly more concerned about this next election — which is pivotal — I was thinking, should I do something about it personally?

Should I put myself on the line? And then there was a poll which indicated there was a chance Labour could form the next government.

Let me tell you, if they do that, it will be a complete disaster.

Not because Labour is always a complete disaster, which they are, but because this is a particularly vital election. In the last three years, the country has been nudged in the right direction, but only nudged.

It needs a huge lurch in the right direction, so that we can protect the changes that are made. And the only way we can truly achieve that, I determined, was with ACT having a big say in the next coalition.

Paul Henry became the face of several news shows in the later half of the 2010s.

We cannot afford to borrow more, and the reason I know that as a fact is because I know we cannot afford the debt we already have.

We cannot borrow our way to prosperity — and this is not a party political broadcast, this is fact — and we know it because: are we in prosperity now? No.

Did we try and borrow our way to prosperity? Yes. You can't borrow your way to prosperity. You cannot tax your way to prosperity. And you cannot achieve prosperity with separatism and internal fighting.

And that is what a left coalition government has to offer. And it's not me saying that; it's what they've said. If you look at all their policies, that is their plan, and it will devastate us.

So, I decided — what's three years? You know, for a 65-year-old man, is another three years going to make any difference? Look how well I'm weathering."