Paul Henry announced as candidate for Act - expected to be given 'electable position'

Paul Henry is joining the Act Party to run 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, multi-billion-dollar cancer hospital.

“We should be one of the most prosperous countries on Earth,” Henry said in a statement.

“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 ten 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 had resigned from his role on the TVNZ board, which he did 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.

David Seymour and Paul Henry at the announcement. Photo / Sylvie Whinray

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 “multi-billions”.

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.”

Act's new candidate Paul Henry at a press conference on Tuesday. Photo / Sylvie Whinray

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.

“Since 2023, things have been nudged in the right direction, but nowhere near hard or fast enough.

“Act is the only party confronting the fundamental imbalance at the heart of New Zealand’s decline: our economy is too small and our bureaucracy is too big.”

He said he wanted to help make New Zealand a better place.

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.”

David Seymour is currently the acting Prime Minister while Christopher Luxon is out of the country. Photo / Mark Mitchell

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 prior to 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 9 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 8 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.

The party alerted media to the announcement on Monday evening, saying it related to the election, but was not a policy.

Act attacked NZ First on Monday over one of its MPs, Mark Patterson, travelling to India to promote New Zealand wool.

This is despite NZ First’s staunch opposition to the India free trade agreement (FTA), which will reduce tariffs on wool and generally increase trade with India.

Seymour said it was “really positive” that a Minister was going overseas to promote the benefits of free trade with India

“I always thought that like the Chinese FTA, like the TPP, the people who jumped around would eventually see the benefits,” he said.