Former New Plymouth mayor takes on former National leader on Māori wards

Saturday, 28 April 2018

The country's most famous 'recovering racist' has taken on former National and ACT party leader Don Brash in a debate on Māori wards.

Andrew Judd is the former mayor of New Plymouth who championed Māori representation at council during his three years in office following an epiphany that challenged him to confront his attitudes toward Māori.

Don Brash views Māori wards as a form of racial preference.

And while the backlash he received from voters ultimately meant he did not stand for reelection in 2016, he has maintained a high profile as a leading voice in the debate for Māori representation in local government and describes himself as a recovering racist.

In March Judd posted on his Facebook page challenging Brash, who is part of the Hobson's Pledge lobby group that sees wards as a form of racial preference, to a public debate about the ward issue.

* Judd backing campaign for Māori wards in Manawatū and Palmerston North

* New Plymouth mayor Andrew Judd looks back on his three years as a 'recovering racist'

* New Plymouth mayor Andrew Judd announces he will not stand for re-election**

Brash, who earlier this year campaigned to force a referendum on the establishment of wards in Palmerston North, accepted and the pre-recorded debate will screen on Māori Television's Native Affairs programme on Monday April 30.

'I made the call after Don had a go at local government who are calling on the Government to change the law around polls and petitions aimed only at the Māori voice on council's,' Judd said in a text message.

Judd has been keeping a close eye on Palmerston North after the city council and Manawatū District Council voted last year in favour of establishing Māori wards.

However opponents petitioned to force a binding referendum on the issue. Voting opened on Friday and closes at noon on Saturday May 19.

In 2015 a voter forced referendum in New Plymouth overwhelmingly rejected the district council's single Māori ward proposal.

Unlike other new wards, which can be decided by councils, Māori wards can be subjected to binding referendums if 5 per cent of voters call for one.

'Palmerston North are going through the same thing New Plymouth went through, which is the representation of Māori wards,' Judd said.

Judd hopes the debate will allow people to feel informed.

'We've both got strong views, so that's good because that's what debate is about. It's a polarising issue.

'It is emotional, it's about who we are, how we connect in a bicultural way.'

Next month Judd will have his own petition presented to Parliament calling for a law change.

'It is basically around the fact that only the Māori seat in council can be petitioned, no other seat can.'

Native Affairs airs Monday April 30 at 8pm on Māori Television.