Deputy Heather Dodunski Succeeded by Neil Holdem Political party Māori Party | Majority 9,206 Party Māori Party | |
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Andrew judd how the taranaki maori ward debate began
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 and served one term before announcing he would not stand again in 2016.
Contents
- Andrew judd how the taranaki maori ward debate began
- Andrew judd mayor of new plymouth district council 2013 present
- Mori wards
- References
Andrew judd mayor of new plymouth district council 2013 present
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. The proposals were widely criticised by politicians and the media, with New Zealand First leader Winston Peters calling arguments for the ward "childish nonsense" and right-wing media personality Mike Hosking labeling Judd "completely out of touch with middle New Zealand". 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. Judd, a New Zealand European, labels himself a "recovering racist".
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. Support for Judd also flowed on social media, with a Facebook group named "Andrew Judd Fan Club" reaching 10,500 members.
