Andrew Bydder: Hamilton Councillor defends expletive-laden comments directed at neighbouring council

Hamilton city councillor Andrew Bydder is on the defence, after delivering an expletive-laden rant to a neighbouring council.

In a letter directed at Waipā District Council, Bydder used derogatory language to voice his displeasure with the placement of a third bridge in Cambridge.

He has since claimed he tried to be polite to the council - but it never got him anywhere. 

"I did this because it cannot be ignored. It was the only way to get a reaction, and to get the issue dealt with. I'd rather not do it this way, but if it's the only way they react, then I have to."

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Episode Transcript

Speaker 1 (00:00):
Hamilton Council is in a bit of trouble for a
letter he wrote to a neighboring district council. The whipa
district Council, Andrew Bidder made a submission to Hypa over
the placement of a third bridge and Cambridge. To give
you an idea of why this is so controversial, here's
a line from the submission that I'm going to have
to heavily census so we don't get BSA. What the
F word? Are you? Two offensive words for intellectually disabled people,

(00:21):
the R word and the S word sees doing. So
let's talk to Andrew bidd about this. Hey, Andrew, I
have it. Andrew, why did you use this language?

Speaker 2 (00:33):
Because anyone who's ever complaining to a council will know
the five deeds of bureaucracy, delay, the fair, deny, defend, dismiss.
If you're polite, I know from experience, nothing happens. It
is a waste of time. You're earlier arsk all about
clean slates and three strikes. Ypawer Council does not have

(00:56):
a clean slate. It's been through its three strikes. I
have tried to be polite in the past and never
got anywhere. I did this because it cannot be ignored.
It was the only way to get a reaction and
to get the issue dealt with. Right, not do it
this way, but if it's the only way they react,

(01:16):
then I have to.

Speaker 1 (01:18):
Okay, it sounds to me like you're in legal trouble,
right Your Mayor Paula Southgate has called the lawyers in.

Speaker 2 (01:26):
Well. The New Zealand Bill of Rights, Section fourteen states
everyone has the right to freedom of expression to impart
opinions of any kind in any form.

Speaker 1 (01:37):
There are restrictions on that, Andrew, there are restrictions. I
can't even say those words on air. I would lose
my job.

Speaker 2 (01:46):
That's related to the broadcasting standards. You have the right
to say those words, just not necessarily on the air.

Speaker 1 (01:55):
Look, and I love freedom of speech and stuff, but
there are professional expectations. This is not particularly professional, is it.

Speaker 2 (02:03):
Well, at one key point is I didn't do this
as a Hamilton City councilor. I am a White Paw resident,
a wye PA ratepayer. I did this because it affects
my wife power property. And I did it on the
White Power Council website. Okay, so there was nothing to
do with Hamilton City Council about this.

Speaker 1 (02:25):
Andrew, if you think about the particular the potential ramifications
of what you've done, was it really worth it to
draw attention to the bridge? Like, really was it right?

Speaker 2 (02:35):
So the way that Ye Power Council did this, it's
having an impact on one hundred houses and probably wiping
out half their value. So that's a fifty million dollar cockup.

Speaker 1 (02:49):
Is that a yes? Then yes, Andrew, thank you, I
really appreciate your time. That's Andrew Bitter. Hamilton City Council
councilor or why Power distract Councils put out a statement
saying his assertion that the process was altered by his
letters entirely false. His feedback was treated the same as
any other piece of feedback and did not change the approach.

Speaker 2 (03:08):
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