Words matter, and using derogatory terms that are vulgar and disrespectful to the disability community just to get attention is not acceptable, says Disability Issues minister Louise Upston.
Louise Upston
She was responding to comments made by Hamilton city councillor Andrew Bydder in a submission to Waipā District Council’s Cambridge Connections proposals.
Bydder, who lives and works in Cambridge, described council staff and elected members as “re$$$ded sp$$tic c$nts” before going on to tell them to “get on your knees and beg forgiveness” and told mayor Susan O’Regan to “get off your fat arse and do your job.”
“I would encourage Mr Bydder and anyone who uses language like that to reflect on how it shapes perceptions of disabled people and disabilities,” said Upston, who is also Taupō MP which includes Cambridge.
Andrew Bydder
“I understand tensions are high in the community over the placement of Cambridge’s third bridge, but those taking part in the debate need to remain respectful and focus on the issue.
“At the end of the day, elected representatives and council staff are real people who often deal with very challenging issues,” she said.
Bydder told The News from his Hamilton City Council email address that he would continue to fight for the people who first discovered when they read The News that a so-called Blue Blob had been identified as the landing site for a third Cambridge bridge over the Waikato River.
Describing it as “the most astonishing display of arrogance”, Bydder said around 100 houses instantly had half their value wiped out.
Paula Southgate
“Nobody will buy in the quiet streets that could be torn apart for an arterial bridge. That is $50 million in damages.
“The mayor’s role is not about kissing babies and cutting ribbons. It is about governance. Susan O’Regan had a chance to step up. 500 angry residents turned up to a public meeting to hear her speak, but she did a runner. Later, she did write an apology, which, incredibly, blamed the residents for not listening to the council,” said Bydder.
“This is the real crux of the matter. With her attitude, there is no expectation of change. Council staff will not learn from their mistakes, and they will repeat it. The public will be ignored again.
“This is why my submission was necessary, reasonable, professional, practical and responsible. It cannot be ignored.”
O’Regan, her Hamilton counterpart Paula Southgate, several Waipā and Hamilton city councillors have lodged Code of Conduct complaints against Bydder.
25 June 2024 – 12.30pm
Waipā mayor Susan O’Regan has called on the community to draw a line under “appalling” and “threatening” behaviour directed at her and other elected officials around the country.
She was responding to comments made by Hamilton city councillor Andrew Bydder in a submission to Waipā District Council’s Cambridge Connections project where he wrote O’Regan should “get off your fat arse and do your job.”
Catching up: At the opening of Fieldays were from left Waipā mayor Susan O’Regan, Taupō MP Louise Upston, Fieldays president Jenni Vernon, Taranaki-King Country MP Barbara Kuriger and Waikato Regional Council chair Pamela Storey. Photo: Mary Anne Gill.
O’Regan revealed it was the third incident of threatening behaviour directed at her last week and added to other threats, including one at a Cambridge Connections information session in March.
An effigy of her sitting on a toilet was installed in front of a Waipā information board in Cambridge on the morning when O’Regan was at the opening of Fieldays.
Andrew Bydder
Later, a member of her family was followed to their Kakepuku farm. Both incidents were reported to the police who have found a car “of interest” in the second one.
“It forms a part of a broader phenomenon around New Zealand but when it’s directed at you personally and in such a nasty, and aggressive and dare I say in a misogynist kind of way, you can’t help but catch your breath a little,” O’Regan said.
“When it comes to the safety of your family, that’s the point you get your heckles up and will do everything and anything to protect them.”
The effigy was “pretty unnerving,” she said.
“Other than the obvious messaging and the symbolism that some of it displayed and conveyed, there were some issues that were a little perplexing,” she said.
The News has seen a photograph and chosen not to publish it.
When no pictures of the effigy appeared on social media, O’Regan said she hoped the community was taking a bit of a collective breath and saying “this isn’t us, this isn’t Cambridge, this isn’t Waipā.
“In an ideal world I would love everybody to say, that’s not okay. Some of the places these people inhabit are online and on social media. And it’s really hard to combat that. But it would be really good if the community would draw a line somehow, some way to express a real repugnance to this sort of behaviour.
“You don’t have to agree with us, that’s totally acceptable. But what’s not acceptable is that kind of behaviour.
“I would like the community to say that’s not okay and be very cognisant of the fact what you choose to ignore, you’re actually choosing to accept.”
O’Regan confirmed she and other Waipā councillors had made Code of Conduct complaints to Hamilton City Council about Bydder’s submission.
Bydder lives and works in Cambridge and his home in Vogel Street is just west of the Blue Blob identified as a potential landing spot for a third bridge and subsequently put on hold by the council.
Paula Southgate
Hamilton mayor Paula Southgate said she and other city councillors had also lodged Code of Conduct complaints, but they would not result in Bydder having to resign.
“The ability to do anything about him is flawed,” she said.
Behaviour towards elected members around the country had become “normalised”, she said.
“What has happened to Susan is hideous. It is not appropriate. We have to stop the rot.”
It was the worst she had seen in her 24 years in politics.
“I feel for Susan. I believe in decent people, and I am glad to see people rallying around because it’s pretty horrible at the moment.”
O’Regan said she was not calling for Bydder’s resignation.
Andrew Bydder’s unredacted submission
“It’s not my place (to call for him to resign) – I’m not his mayor which I’m sure he is eternally grateful for. That’s for his council and his mayor to address.”
The message to her in the submission process was the first time she had heard from Bydder.
“It’s appalling. It’s not just about me, it’s about our staff, about our chief executive.”
The swear words and derogatory language – he used the term ‘re$$$ded sp$$tic c$nts’ – were “wildy inappropriate in anybody’s language,” she said.
“Doubly so because he is an elected member. When it comes from within your sector in such a vitriolic, repulsive way, you’ve got to draw a line.”
She said the personal attacks were not what she signed up for when she stood for mayor but would not deter her from standing again next year.
See: Goodbye Mr Blobby
See: Council called the crisis team
See: Drop in session a disaster
See: Council backtracks
