Why I’ve cast aside my angst to stand for Parliament - Paul Henry

OPINION: Paul Henry opens up on why he’s standing for the Act Party - and, in the process, resigning from the board of TVNZ.

Why would I be prepared to commit to such a time-consuming endeavour at my stage of life? I have been angsting over the decision to stand for Act for many weeks, months, well, maybe years.

I don’t need a job. And I certainly don’t need to put myself on the line, raise my head above the parapet and face the inevitable slings and arrows of disagreement.

But while it’s true I don’t need a job, I’ve determined I do need to do more than sit back and mither on about New Zealand’s situation.

I need to feel I’ve done all I can do to ensure I’m comfortable that my country is heading in the right direction, socially and structurally.

It’s been nudged in the right direction over the past three years, but it needs much more than a nudge. It has a long way to go.

It’s particularly important for me now. My wife and I have 10 grandchildren between us.

My youngest daughter Bella has a baby - and twins that turned 2 last week. I wish for them the opportunities I had, in a country that champions success and, as a result, breeds it.

A country that’s there for them to help them reach their dreams, that enthusiastically promotes freedom and self-determination, that cares for those who truly can’t care for themselves and provides encouragement and a world-class platform for those who can.

A country that’s as vibrant and successful as its citizens.

New Zealand is packed with an extraordinary abundance of beauty and resources.

But it’s floundering. We shouldn’t be fighting over the scraps, struggling to pay for basic needs and looking enviously offshore. We should be reaping the rewards of our efforts. There is no insurmountable obstacle preventing us from being the most envied country on Earth. Think about that … I do! New Zealand, the most envied country on earth.

I was in the United States last month - it’s 100 years of Route 66. It was rude not to go; I was thinking about how important this coming election is to our future.

It seemed unbelievable to me that polls indicated Labour could possibly form the next government. Oh my God, post the keys to the bank and run for the airport.

On my return just a week or so ago, I decided to step up to the plate. I don’t want to be that bloke at that cafe saying, “I could see this happening, no surprise to me, what a shit show!”

We can’t afford another costly electoral mistake.

There is only one party that believes the two great truths facing us: our economy is way too small, our bureaucracy is way too big.

It’s the party that understands that we can’t borrow toward prosperity; we can’t tax toward prosperity. We can’t achieve prosperity through infighting and separatism.

It’s won through productivity, vision, freedom … and freedom should be fun.

We can’t be prosperous and broke. And at the moment we’re well down the track to being broke. A swing to the left would seal the deal.

Total public debt in New Zealand right now sits at more than $182 billion.

Labour added another $100b to our debt in its last term in office, with nothing substantial or productive to show for it.

We need to find almost $25 million today just to service our debt. And we’re a bit short. And by the way … that’s not just today, it’s every day.

Worse than that … our shortfall is set to increase next year. In fact, next year’s Crown debt is forecast to rise by $24b.

A huge chunk of that is debt servicing.

If nothing changes, when my twin grandchildren start work, their tax will go towards paying the interest on the cost of a free school lunch handed out today. A little bit of nourishment; a lifetime of indebtedness.

What we’re doing is completely unsustainable. And it affects our ability to excel; to fund the best medications, to provide the best education, to do the best and be the best for all of us. I want to be part of giving it more than a nudge in the right direction. Let’s turn this wonderful slice of paradise around.

Two of my grandchildren live in Australia: their parents can provide them with a better lifestyle there than here. That’s unacceptable to me. I want to hear the defining sound of prosperity bubbling to the surface. I can’t quite hear it yet, but soon I hope.

I’m not saying Australia, America, England and so on are running like well-oiled machines, they are clearly not.

I’m saying WE can be so much better. And owe it to ourselves, and God knows our children and grandchildren, to be so much better. We need to leave behind a bit more than a ballooning debt and missed opportunity.

The truth is, I don’t want a job for myself; I don’t want to tie myself down for God knows how long sitting in some leather-bound seat listening to some twat clacking on. But I also don’t want to leave a stone unturned. I do want to be part of changing the outlook for New Zealand. We can’t afford another borrowing, taxing, divisive scramble.

We can do this thing. And we need to do it now. We can live with more personal freedom in a country that treats all its people as equal, that’s not over-governed with stupid, costly, life-wasting rules and regulations. That trades the best ideas, services and products freely and fairly with the world. A country that’s growing to all of our advantage.

Labour and its chums are not bad people. Quite the opposite, probably. They are just badly misguided. They need to be kept well out of power, especially at such a vulnerable time.

I’ve judged Act on its achievements but, more importantly, on its philosophy and its steadfast commitment. I know a vote for Act is the best way to keep the left out of the kitchen and keep the right on the right track. I’m not intending to waste any of my time or yours. Let’s make it happen.

Broadcaster Paul Henry has hosted numerous shows and was - until Tuesday morning - a TVNZ board member.

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