13. How The Unity Party Was Created

Join me for a beach walk as I share how the Unity Party was created—born from a need for real change and a system that puts people first.

I still have my camera stick learner license, so for those who don’t want to see me moving like John Travolta in Grease, here’s the audio-only version!

🎥 Full video available here: https://youtu.be/dZ_W7Jjfs1Q?si=m3Y3jMUhYhtTnrHm

 📢 I’ll also be uploading the full four videos from that walk, so stay tuned for more!

In this episode, we’ve enhanced the audio by removing background noise from the beach to ensure better clarity. As a result, there may be brief moments where the sound is slightly distorted or digitized, but these minor artifacts should not affect the overall message. Thanks for listening! 

Thanks for listening to Piecing Together Unity!

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Want to be part of the change? Visit www.unityparty.org.nz to explore our vision for a better Aotearoa — and follow us on Facebook at Unity Party NZ for updates, discussions, and ways to get involved.

Together, we’ll piece it all together — one idea, one story, and one conversation at a time.

Transcript

Episode Transcript: How The Unity Party Was Created

[00:00:00]

Nigel McFall: Kia ora, hello everyone. Thought I’d take a stroll on the beach today and share a bit about why I started the Unity Party.

It’s probably a different origin story than most political parties. It really started when I was diagnosed with ADHD about three years ago. I opted for medication, and it was life-changing. A complete difference. I’ll do another video at some point about that journey.

Once I started medication, it was up to me to figure out how to manage my specific type of ADHD. That was tough. It took me three years to work it out, and in an unusual way.

[00:02:00]

In December last year, I was struggling to function. Even doing simple reports on my phone felt impossible. Since getting medicated, I had started listening to politics—podcasts, radio shows. Even Mike Hosking, despite not always aligning with my views. But I needed contrast. I believe you need to hear all sides to make informed decisions.

When Te Pāti Māori performed the haka in Parliament, it caught my attention. I wanted to understand more. So, I started immersing myself in politics—not just the occasional podcast but really diving in. A few days later, I realized something. I felt well—the best I’d ever functioned.

[00:04:00]

My brain had latched onto politics as its new source of stimulation. That’s how ADHD works—it finds what excites it and locks in. At first, I thought it might just be a hyperfocus phase, but I kept going. I started working on policies, building the website, and putting together what you see now. And I loved it. It kept me well.

I’ve always been about justice. Always stood up for the little guy, for people without a voice. But now, with clarity, I could actually do something about it.

[00:06:00]

So why am I the right person for this? My brain works on pattern recognition. I see patterns in everything—society, behavior, politics. I can spot when things aren’t right, when people are being manipulative, when systems are designed to fail people. And once you see that, you can’t unsee it.

The reality is, no one is standing up for the people who truly need help—Māori, those with disabilities, people struggling with mental health, those living in poverty. No political party has truly improved these situations. I’ve lived through those struggles myself. I know what it’s like to be in poverty, to be on a benefit, to miss appointments and have your support cut. And when you try to explain why, the system doesn’t care.

[00:08:00]

It’s generational. My parents had ADHD but never got the support. Then I struggled. Now, my kids struggle. And without intervention, their kids will too. It keeps going. Every now and then, a politician throws some funding at an organization and calls it a solution, but that’s not real change.

We need serious solutions. Housing is a mess. We need more affordable, communal housing options. Food costs are out of control. We give supermarkets billions in taxpayer money through food grants and benefits—why aren’t we demanding better prices? The government should be ensuring people can afford to live. Instead, we’re heading toward a system where if you don’t have money, you get nothing.

[00:10:00]

That’s why I’m here. I know we can fix this. Before my diagnosis, I never would have believed in myself enough to try. I didn’t think I was smart enough. I didn’t think I had anything to offer the world. But now, I know I do.

I can’t sit back and watch this happen. If you’re watching this, you’re probably frustrated too. Life isn’t meant to be just surviving. Families are working full-time, sometimes both parents, and still struggling. Even single people working 40+ hours a week can barely get by. That’s not normal.

[00:12:00]

The cost of living is the biggest issue, and no one in power is addressing it properly. Because if house prices drop, it affects their investments. If food prices drop, it affects their friends in business. I don’t own a house. I don’t have those ties. I will do what needs to be done for the people.

Some will say, "Work harder." "Skip the coffee." "Stop eating takeaways." But I know firsthand that mental health impacts financial stability. People struggling aren’t lazy—they’re fighting battles no one else sees.

[00:14:00]

So that’s the Unity Party. It’s about fairness. It’s about actually making the changes that politicians talk about but never act on. You’re not going to get that from someone who has never experienced real struggle.

I’m just an average Kiwi guy with an amazing brain—something I’m still getting used to saying. But I know we can fix this.

If you want to see what we’re about, check out our Facebook page or our website, www.unityparty.org.nz. And definitely check out the podcast, Piecing Together Unity.

I’ve got about 12 episodes so far, and I’ll keep rolling them out. It helps me structure my thoughts, and it helps deliver the message clearly.

[00:16:00]

People say, "This can’t be done." That I’m "wasting my time." That attitude only drives me more. The harder things get, the better I perform. That’s ADHD for you.

So, let’s do this. Until next time, take care.