Wrapping the Week with Kate Hawkesby and Tim Wilson: Paul Henry standing for ACT, working while studying, and life in America
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What is the main topic discussed in this episode?
Kate Hawksby, morning.
Good morning.
Tim Wilson, good morning. Good morning, Mike Hosking. Here we go.
I'm so glad that you said you're inspired this week because I too am inspired this week. And I was inspired by Paul. I'm loving that this election is shaping up as a series of Dancing with the Stars. It's got those vibes. We just need Candy Lane and we're in. It's so cool. But I love that it's such a smart move because Paul is a walking headline and he will grab attention. He's a great communicator. Even if he, I know he's not one of life's,
Why do Kate and Tim think Paul Henry joining ACT is a smart move for the party?
You know, he's not really one for committing for the long term to anything. But even if he just sees them through the campaign to the election, he will have done ACT a massive service because he's dead right. You've got to get those disillusioned national voters. You've got to get them away from New Zealand First and onto ACT. You don't want New Zealand First being the major player in the coalition. So I think he's onto something and I hope he's effective for them because I think it's a great move.
How well do you know Paul, Tim?
Not that well. I've met him a couple of times from your interview. You seem to know him very well. I like the reflective sort of tone that was – you know, he's – what is he? He's 65 now. He's a lot older than you and I, Mike, so, you know, he's got more miles on the clock. He's a gold card holder. He's a gold card holder. He's a pensioner. Exactly, but there was – But there was something, obviously a sense of, okay, so what's my legacy going to be? I better do something. I think what's interesting to me is it's all like, oh, it's going to cut Nationals lunch. No, he's going to cut New Zealand First's lunch, I think, because he is spicy, positive, and a bit dangerous.
And he's not afraid of the media, which so many politicians are. So I think he'll know how to handle them, which I think is awesome.
It's going to be interesting to watch him where I think, and I don't want to criticize him because I like him too much. Do you like him? I mean, a number of people this week, I mean, a lot of people know him, but a lot of people... I've always loved Paul.
How might Paul Henry's media profile shift votes away from New Zealand First?
I think Paul's... But that's good.
It's good to be a divisive character. It means you stand for something, and it means you believe in something. You don't want to be blancmange and boring, and everybody thinks you're a nice guy. That's nice guys finish last.
Do you know what I think I like about him most of all? He's like me. And we were saying that to each other when he was in the studio, because it was actually like you.
It was like you interviewing you. And then you are...
No wonder you love him. It's like looking in a mirror.
He used to, we used to have the best time. He used to drive, he was living in the Wairarapa and I was hosting a show called New Zealand Tonight. And he was in the Wairarapa running an old person's home because he's an entrepreneur. His dad's a really, I don't know if his dad's still alive, I'm assuming not, but his dad was an old entrepreneur. And he tells a great story about shipping chain. He cornered the market in shipping chain once. And the world was desperate for shipping chain. You know, the chain on a ship that when you drop an anchor. And so the world ran short of shipping chain apparently for some reason. And Paul's dad cornered the global market. And everyone went, well, what are we going to do for our anchors?
And Paul's dad went, well, you're going to have to buy it off me, aren't you? And that's very Paul Henry. So he's clearly a chip off the old block. But he was running a retirement home in the Wairarapa, which is when he ran against Georgina Byer, of course. But he used to drive over the hill, which is no mean commute, to come into the studio when I was doing New Zealand Tonight and he was reading the news on New Zealand Tonight. And we just used to gas bag like a couple of old women with a shandy and a cigarette. It was like the best of times.
I think he is a hard worker. And what I love about New Zealand is you can go away and be a nudist in Palm Springs for a while and sail your boat around the place and then come back and stand for government.
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Chapters
4 chapters
1
What is the main topic discussed in this episode?
0:00–0:37
2
Why do Kate and Tim think Paul Henry joining ACT is a smart move for the party?
0:37–2:08
3
How might Paul Henry's media profile shift votes away from New Zealand First?
2:08–5:40
4
What personal history and anecdotes explain Paul Henry's personality and work ethic?
5:40–10:57
Speakers
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