Paul Henry at Change Makers

"I think this country is deeply in the sh*t."

In the YouTube video "I think this country is deeply in the sh*t." by Paul Henry at Change Makers, Henry expresses his concern for New Zealand's state, believing the country is broken and needs repair. He criticizes the political situation, expresses disappointment in the direction under current leadership, and believes opportunities are being missed. Henry also shows concern for disadvantaged individuals and the lack of protection they receive. He predicts that another term for the current party would bring no personal benefit for the average citizen and only added costs.

Henry believes the pandemic presented an opportunity for significant progress but has been squandered. He advocates for strong growth, encouraging the private sector, and greater security for citizens as priorities for any government. Henry also discusses the need to address the poor state of New Zealand's education system, the lack of productive investment from offshore, and the potential impact of Artificial Intelligence on productivity and employment. He encourages individuals to wake up to the challenges facing the country and work together to advance opportunities as a nation.

Summary of "I think this country is deeply in the sh*t." | Paul Henry at Change Makers

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00:00:00

Henry starts by expressing his deep concern for New Zealand's current state, describing the country as broken and in need of repair. He explains his reasons for accepting an invitation to speak at the event, despite not being friendly with any political party. Henry criticizes the current political situation, expressing disappointment in the country's direction under current leadership. He believes opportunities are being missed and the economy and living standards are declining. Henry is concerned for those born with disadvantages and the lack of protection they receive. He predicts that if the current party were given another term in office, there would be no personal benefit for the average citizen and only added costs. Henry expresses his belief that the pandemic had presented an opportunity for significant progress, but it had been squandered.

00:05:00

Henry criticizes New Zealand's handling of the pandemic and its aftermath. He criticizes the country's leadership for not capitalizing on the global interest in New Zealand's success and instead accumulating debt. Henry also expresses his disagreement with the Green Party and Labor, as they lack the ability to generate income and are more focused on spending other people's money. He advocates for strong growth, encouraging the private sector, and greater security for citizens as the priority of any government. Henry also shares his thoughts on the National Party and its lack of fortitude to turn the country's direction towards growth. He mentions David Seymour as a potential prime minister but expresses skepticism about his ability to deliver on his promises.

00:10:00

Henry shares his pessimistic view of New Zealand before the last election, calling it a "Sad Little Country" that prefers to squabble amongst itself rather than face the world with unity and ambition. He hopes his views might inspire some consideration and urgency in voters. After the election, he acknowledges that the country has been nudged in the right direction but is suffering from the tyranny of its own success. He criticizes the parties for their separatist rhetoric and lack of change, urging for a significant reset and a return to the fearlessness and pioneering spirit of the past. Henry recalls his own experiences growing up surrounded by inspiring pioneers and laments the current population's sense of dissatisfaction and inability to fix the problems at hand due to political correctness.

00:15:00

Henry expresses concern about the future of New Zealand and the education system. He shares a personal experience of a friend who can no longer walk due to childbirth and wonders about the prospects of her twins growing up in New Zealand. He criticizes the poor state of New Zealand's education system, with low global ratings and plummeting achievement levels, particularly in some ethnic groups. Henry advocates for bold initiatives, such as charter schools, to inspire children and broaden their vision. He emphasizes the importance of teachers who can enthuse children with a love for learning and navigate them through the use of devices without being narrowed by algorithms. Henry acknowledges the challenge of building a resilient economy to afford internationally competitive salaries and attract skilled professionals, which is essential to retain talent and address the shortage of doctors, nurses, engineers, and other essential workers. He calls on change-makers to address these issues urgently to secure a better future for New Zealand.

00:20:00

Henry expresses frustration with New Zealand's inability to attract productive investment from offshore due to restrictive foreign investment rules. He argues that the country needs to be bold and offer generous incentives to bring desirable global enterprises, using the example of Margaret Thatcher's success in the UK. Henry mentions the closures of News Hub and Smith and CO as warnings that New Zealand is failing to adapt and that business as usual is a disaster. He emphasizes the need for fundamental change and being known as a country where people are rewarded for their efforts. Henry criticizes the restrictive foreign investment rules and calls for them to be among the least restrictive in the OECD. He also mentions the closure of TV3's News Hub as an example of the need to adapt and the penny dropping for those in charge.

00:25:00

Henry discusses the potential revolutionary impact of Artificial Intelligence (AI) and robotics on productivity but expresses concern about New Zealand's readiness to capitalize on this technological shift. He highlights the country's embarrassingly low productivity and the predicted increase in unemployment due to AI taking over jobs. Henry mentions that many jobs, particularly in manufacturing and retail, are already being lost to robotics and AI. He raises questions about the implications of mass unemployment, the cost of providing a basic income for everyone, and the potential for increased social unrest. Henry emphasizes the need for governments to address these issues and prepare for the challenges of the short and medium term.

00:30:00

Henry emphasizes the need for individuals to wake up to the challenges facing the country and work together to advance opportunities as a nation. He encourages people to speak loudly against the dying of the light and reshape the economy for the benefit of all. Separatists are described as energy wasters and the need to attract investment from offshore is stressed. Henry also encourages engaging in dialogue with those who hold different views and reshaping education to prepare young people for the future. He uses the analogy of wombats pooing cubes to illustrate the importance of protecting boundaries and preventing slippage into neighboring territories. Overall, Henry calls for collective action and unity to address the economic challenges facing the country.