Andrew Judd

Andrew Judd
26th Mayor of New Plymouth
In office
26 October 2013 – 25 October 2016
Deputy Heather Dodunski
Preceded by Harry Duynhoven
Succeeded by Neil Holdem
Majority 9,206
Councillor for New Plymouth District
In office
2010–2013
Personal details
Political party Māori Party

Andrew Judd is a New Zealand local government politician and activist. He won the mayoralty of New Plymouth from one-term incumbent Harry Duynhoven with a resounding 9,206 vote majority in 2013[1] and served one term before announcing he would not stand again in 2016.[2]

Māori wards

In 2014 Judd caused controversy when he and his council supported the establishment of a special Māori ward in New Plymouth in a move intended to increase Māori representation, lift Iwi participation in council decision-making and fulfill Treaty of Waitangi obligations. Additionally, Judd also called for all councils in New Zealand to be half-Māori.[3] The proposals were widely criticised by politicians and the media, with New Zealand First leader Winston Peters calling arguments for the ward "childish nonsense" [3] and right-wing media personality Mike Hosking labelling Judd "completely out of touch with middle New Zealand".[3] In the months following a publicly-initiated referendum on the creation of a Māori ward, which Judd lost in a landslide, the Mayor spoke to media about "a man in a Nazi uniform" coming to see him, getting removed as a patron of a club, being abused walking down the street in a Santa parade and being spat on whilst out with family at a local supermarket.[4] Judd, a New Zealand European, labels himself a "recovering racist".[5]

However, Judd gained the admiration and recognition of notable political figures, including MP Marama Fox who called for his critics to apologise in a general debate speech before parliament.[6] Support for Judd also flowed on social media, with a Facebook group named "Andrew Judd Fan Club" reaching 10,500 members.[7]

References

  1. ↑ "Andrew Judd elected mayor of New Plymouth". Taranaki Daily News. Stuff.co.nz. 12 October 2013. Retrieved 30 October 2016.
  2. ↑ Hannah Lee (6 May 2016). "New Plymouth mayor Andrew Judd announces he will not stand for re-election". Taranaki Daily News. Stuff.co.nz. Retrieved 30 October 2016.
  3. 1 2 3 Taryn Utiger (24 November 2014). "Mayor calls for half Maori councils". Taranaki Daily News. Stuff.co.nz. Retrieved 30 October 2016.
  4. ↑ "'I had a man dressed in a Nazi uniform come to see me' – New Plymouth mayor won't seek re-election in wake of racial hate". Seven Sharp (ONE NEWS). Television New Zealand. 6 May 2015. Retrieved 30 October 2016.
  5. ↑ "Andrew Judd: How I realised I am a recovering racist". Morganfoundation.org.nz. 25 July 2016. Retrieved 5 March 2017.
  6. ↑ "Fox, Marama: General Debate – New Zealand Parliament". Parliament.nz. 11 May 2016. Retrieved 5 March 2017.
  7. ↑ "Support on social media flows for New Plymouth mayor". Stuff.co.nz. 9 May 2016. Retrieved 5 March 2017.
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