Andrew Mark Judd (born 1965) is a New Zealand local government politician and activist who served as the mayor of New Plymouth from 2013 to 2016.
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 Holdom |
| Majority | 9,206 |
| Councillor for New Plymouth District | |
| In office 2007–2013 | |
| Personal details | |
| Born | Andrew Mark Judd 1965 (age 58–59) Masterton, New Zealand |
| Political party | Māori Party[1] |
| Occupation | Dispensing optician |
Early life
editJudd was born in Masterton in 1965, the second of six children of Peter and Jennifer Judd. His father ran a menswear shop and his mother had come to New Zealand from Guernsey as a 16-year-old. Judd was educated at Makoura College, and after a varied work history as a cloth-cutter in clothing factories, stock and station sales management cadet, home appliance retailer, and sales rep for The Radio Network, he became a dispensing optician in New Plymouth.[2][3]
Political career
editAt the 2007 local-body elections, Judd was elected to the New Plymouth District Council as the second-highest polling candidate.[4] He was re-elected in 2010, polling in fourth place.[5]
Judd won the mayoralty of New Plymouth from one-term incumbent Harry Duynhoven with a 9,206 vote majority in 2013[6] and served one term before announcing he would not stand again in 2016.[7]
Māori wards
editIn 2014 Judd caused controversy when he and his council supported the establishment of a Māori ward in New Plymouth in a move intended to increase Māori representation, lift iwi participation in council decision-making and fulfil Treaty of Waitangi obligations. Judd also called for all councils in New Zealand to have up to 50% Māori representation.[8] The proposals were widely criticised by politicians and the media, with New Zealand First leader Winston Peters calling arguments for the ward "childish nonsense" [8] and right-wing media personality Mike Hosking labelling Judd "completely out of touch with middle New Zealand".[8] 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.[9] Judd, a New Zealand European, labels himself a "recovering racist".[10]
However, Judd gained the admiration and recognition of political figures, including MP Marama Fox who called for his critics to apologise in a general debate speech before parliament.[11] Support for Judd also flowed on social media, with a Facebook group named "Andrew Judd Fan Club" reaching 10,500 members.[12]
References
edit- ^ Wilkinson, Jeremy (4 October 2016). "New Plymouth mayor Andrew Judd's possible future in the Maori Party". Stuff. Retrieved 25 July 2020.
- ^ Husband, Dale (14 May 2016). "Andrew Judd: An upbringing too white by far". E-Tangata. Retrieved 26 November 2023.
- ^ Tucker, Jim (Spring 2016). "Judging Andrew" (PDF). Lïve. Retrieved 26 November 2023.
- ^ Evans, Ryan (15 October 2007). "Horse focuses on "necessities before niceties"". Taranaki Daily News. p. 1.
- ^ Evans, Ryan (11 October 2010). "Bublitz, Tamati in from the cold". Taranaki Daily News. p. 3.
- ^ "Andrew Judd elected mayor of New Plymouth". Taranaki Daily News. Stuff.co.nz. 12 October 2013. Retrieved 30 October 2016.
- ^ 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.
- ^ a b c Taryn Utiger (24 November 2014). "Mayor calls for half Maori councils". Taranaki Daily News. Stuff.co.nz. Retrieved 30 October 2016.
- ^ "'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.
- ^ "Andrew Judd: How I realised I am a recovering racist". Morganfoundation.org.nz. 25 July 2016. Retrieved 5 March 2017.
- ^ "Fox, Marama: General Debate – New Zealand Parliament". Parliament.nz. 11 May 2016. Retrieved 5 March 2017.
- ^ "Support on social media flows for New Plymouth mayor". Stuff.co.nz. 9 May 2016. Retrieved 5 March 2017.