Election 2026: David Seymour reveals Paul Henry as Act Party candidate, likely to be given ‘electable’ list position

Paul Henry is joining the Act Party as a list candidate in the 2026 election.

In a colourful press conference alongside party leader David Seymour, the former broadcaster called for a stronger Act presence in the next Government as he lambasted the previous Labour Government’s spending while pitching his idea for a new, multibillion-dollar cancer hospital.

Henry’s candidacy was immediately welcomed by former National Prime Minister Sir John Key, who told the Herald it was a “great selection by the Act Party” and said he hoped Henry would make it to Parliament.

Henry said New Zealand “should be one of the most prosperous countries on Earth”.

“Instead, too many New Zealanders are struggling to pay the bills, while young people leave in search of better opportunities overseas.

“My wife and I have 10 grandchildren between us. Like every grandparent, I want them to grow up in a country that rewards success, values freedom, and gives people every opportunity to build a better life through their own efforts.”

The Act Party board had ratified his candidacy last night. He would not be contesting an electorate and would be running list-only.

Seymour said he expected the board to give him an “electable and respectable position” on the list.

Given his involvement with Act, Henry resigned from his role on the TVNZ board this morning. Seymour said he had also spoken to the minister responsible for TVNZ, Paul Goldsmith, about the matter.

This is not Henry’s first foray into politics; he ran for the National Party in 1999 in the Wairarapa electorate, but lost to Labour’s Georgina Beyer.

He told reporters he had been “enormously disappointed” by National, claiming the party had been attracted by populist ideas, which limited the party’s ability to make meaningful and lasting changes. He said Act was needed to keep National focused.

On the coalition’s infighting, Henry accepted it was “tricky” as parties approached an election. He believed Act had demonstrated a skill in maintaining effective government despite that.

“I think it will be a different coalition,” Henry said of the next Government, clarifying he meant the proportion would be different.

Asked how much he trusted NZ First leader Winston Peters, Henry referenced his previous job hosting the TV show Traitors, and then said he knew more about Peters than others did.

He noted some of NZ First’s policies were “sugar hits”. He accepted some of them “make sense” but insisted they were only policies and not a “direction for the country”.

Henry came out with a policy idea of his own: a new, world-class cancer hospital in New Zealand, which he said would be worth “multibillions”.

He claimed he could “easily” see wealthy individuals contributing about $10b and the rest being funded through borrowing. Henry admitted he hadn’t floated his idea with Seymour beforehand.

Henry later conceded he didn’t know how many billions would be required to fund the cancer hospital.

“I’m a big picture man! We’ll employ 50 people to work that out, which of course we won’t do.”

Despite his experience in media, Henry said he wasn’t interested in becoming the Broadcasting Minister, although he did acknowledge his desire to become a minister.

In his statement and the press conference, Henry was highly critical of the previous Labour Government, the debt it accumulated and the interest cost imposed on current and future generations.

“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.”

He said he had been motivated to run in the election after a poll showed a left bloc could govern.

Seymour, in the statement, said Henry “will bring wit, intelligence, and a powerful voice to the ACT team”.

“He is sharp, fearless, and an exceptional communicator. More importantly, he has a genuine love for New Zealand and a deep frustration at the opportunities we are wasting.

“Paul is not entering politics because he needs another career. He is standing because he refuses to sit back while New Zealand becomes poorer, less ambitious, and divided by race.”

Key, who had frequent on-air interviews with Henry when he was Prime Minister, told the Herald he hoped Henry would make it to Parliament.

“There is no doubt in my mind Paul Henry will make a fantastic MP. He’s a great selection by the Act Party.

“I have absolutely no doubt he will bring enthusiasm, wit, great humour and real passion to the job.

“I hope he is successful in making his way into Parliament – he deserves to be there."

Asked what he thought about Henry choosing Act over National, Key said: “I would have loved him to be with the National Party, but we’re great friends with the Act Party, we’ve been that way for a long time.”

‘I’ve sold my boat’: Henry’s colourful character on show

Henry’s skill as an engaging communicator was evident throughout what was an, at times, comical and unpredictable press conference announcing his candidacy.

Starting his address by acknowledging the “bloody beautiful country in the background”, Henry welcomed questions about his reasons for entering politics by accepting he was an “uncommonly handsome older gentleman who clearly doesn’t need a new career”.

He later told a story, which he initially branded as a “funny, little story” before conceding it was neither little nor funny, about sailing his boat off a small island in Fiji in September 2023 when he was surprised by a visit from former Labour leader David Shearer, who was aboard a “nasty little rowboat”.

“I welcomed him aboard – what else can you do – and then I spent probably an hour having a wine with him, congratulating him on throwing politics in, buying a small yacht, and sailing around the world.

“And so what did I learn from that? Nothing, so I’ve done exactly the opposite.”

Henry, renowned for his love of sailing, accepted his decision would constitute a lifestyle change. He said he had sold his boat, but added: “Not for this, to be honest, I sold it before because I wanted a bigger one!”

In articulating his hopes for the country’s future, Henry recalled his youth and said: “Every boy in my class, including me, wanted to be an astronaut.”

He also speculated whether he could use the word “twat” in the debating chamber, recounting a recent conversation with Seymour who had reportedly referenced “twats carping on” during late-night debating sessions.

The former TV show host also admitted he would “love to host The Chase again” but accepted “that may well not be possible”.

Latest poll shows Act lower than 2023 election result

The announcement comes less than four months out from the November 7 election.

Seymour’s party polled 7.8% in the RNZ-Reid Research Poll published this morning. That would translate to 10 seats in Parliament, down one from currently.

On the latest NZ Herald-Motu Research Poll of Polls, which took into account polls before the RNZ-Reid Research results, there was a 69.9% probability of the current National-led coalition being returned to power. The model had Act on 7%, with the party receiving nine seats.

Act is currently polling as the least popular party in the coalition.

It received 8.64% at the 2023 election with 11 seats. That made it the second largest party in the Government, ahead of NZ First, which received 6.08% and eight seats.

However, NZ First has trended upwards in support throughout this term. The Poll of Polls model has NZ First on 13.8% and 18 seats.

Seymour is currently acting Prime Minister while Christopher Luxon is on leave.