ACT sent out a little media advisory last night about 7:30pm, saying there would be a major announcement. It would not be a policy announcement, no exclusive would be offered and there would be no embargoed material.
I looked at it and immediately the texts started coming in. Is David Seymour resigning? Has somebody died? Is somebody pregnant? What's going on?
I looked at it and thought, that's a lot of hype right there in that little media advisory. This better be good or the chat is going to be about damp squibs. But no, Paul Henry is absolutely worth all that hype.
Paul Henry, I think, is the candidate get of the election so far. Don't forget, he was the highest-rated host of breakfast television in this country. He is immensely popular. He probably, I think, will single-handedly lift ACT's vote; at the very least, he will hold it up.
Paul brings two things to ACT. The first is his absolute belief in New Zealand. That is authentic. He's been raving about New Zealand being paradise for years now. He's even done a TV show about it.
When he says he wants to be in Parliament to sort out New Zealand's prosperity for the sake of his grandkids, I absolutely believe that to be true.
The second thing he brings is entertainment. ACT has been struggling to break through on the right. The headlines have largely been hogged by New Zealand First. Paul Henry, I think, can get cut-through with his wit alone. Go and have a look at that press conference. He was very, very funny.
Now, this is not to say that Paul Henry is going to go down well with everyone. There is a small group of people out there who absolutely hate his guts, but that is no loss to ACT because those people were most probably going to vote left anyway.
My only hope for Paul is that he doesn't come to regret this decision because going into Parliament very rarely ends well for people who already have public profiles and successful careers.
'Thrilled to have him on board': ACT's David Seymour on Paul Henry joining up with the party
Somehow, though, I think if that is how it goes for Paul Henry, he's not going to give a damn anyway, so it probably doesn't matter.
Ten out of ten. This announcement is brilliant for ACT's campaign.
Heather du Plessis-Allan is a journalist and radio broadcaster who hosts Newstalk ZB's weekday Drive-Time Show – where this article was sourced.
6 comments:
Well said, Heather. Very smart move by ACT!
It appears to be an evidenced based decision from ACT.
As such, I'm sure ms Swarbrick and the greens will throw their full support behind it.
Ameni
I have been staunchly in support of ACT up to this point but them taking on a light-weight narcissist like Paul Henry has made me think again.
His enthusiasm and what looked exactly like genuine care for NZ to be that much better place was fantastic. Its not the first time I've heard his thoughts on the future of this country, so to me, an excellent candidate. Best yet.
He was what Luxon needs to be but sadly for Luxon, the polar opposite of his CEO, performative missing in action style.
What a breath of fresh air !!
Hope this shakes Luxon up !!
ACT have needed a high profile attack-dog like Shane Jones to win them some headlines for a while now. Let’s hope Henry is just that. Headlines, (good or bad, doesn’t matter, just ask the Trumpster) win attention, attention wins votes. Go ACT!
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