Andrew Judd

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Andrew Judd
26th Mayor of New Plymouth
In office
26 October 2013 – 25 October 2016
DeputyHeather Dodunski
Preceded byHarry Duynhoven
Succeeded byNeil Holdom
Majority9,206
Councillor for New Plymouth District
In office
2010–2013
Personal details
Political partyMāori Party[1]

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[2] and served one term before announcing he would not stand again in 2016.[3]

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. Judd also called for all councils in New Zealand to have up to 50% Māori representation.[4] The proposals were widely criticised by politicians and the media, with New Zealand First leader Winston Peters calling arguments for the ward "childish nonsense" [4] and right-wing media personality Mike Hosking labelling Judd "completely out of touch with middle New Zealand".[4] 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.[5] Judd, a New Zealand European, labels himself a "recovering racist".[6]

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.[7] Support for Judd also flowed on social media, with a Facebook group named "Andrew Judd Fan Club" reaching 10,500 members.[8]

References[]

  1. ^ Wilkinson, Jeremy (4 October 2016). "New Plymouth mayor Andrew Judd's possible future in the Maori Party". Stuff. Retrieved 25 July 2020.
  2. ^ "Andrew Judd elected mayor of New Plymouth". Taranaki Daily News. Stuff.co.nz. 12 October 2013. Retrieved 30 October 2016.
  3. ^ 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.
  4. ^ a b c Taryn Utiger (24 November 2014). "Mayor calls for half Maori councils". Taranaki Daily News. Stuff.co.nz. Retrieved 30 October 2016.
  5. ^ "'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.
  6. ^ "Andrew Judd: How I realised I am a recovering racist". Morganfoundation.org.nz. 25 July 2016. Retrieved 5 March 2017.
  7. ^ "Fox, Marama: General Debate – New Zealand Parliament". Parliament.nz. 11 May 2016. Retrieved 5 March 2017.
  8. ^ "Support on social media flows for New Plymouth mayor". Stuff.co.nz. 9 May 2016. Retrieved 5 March 2017.
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