Hamilton City Councilor Andrew Bydder.
Photo: supplied

The Hamilton councilor who wrote an expletive-laden public submission to neighboring Waipā District Council will face no further consequences.

Andrew Bydder was censured by his fellow councilors and was ordered to apologize for the ableist insults and derogatory comments.

Bydder was found in breach of Hamilton City Council’s code of conduct for comments, including telling Waipā mayor Susan O’Regan that get off your “fat ass” and do your job correctly.

Bydder also asked Waipā District Council staff: “What the fuck are you bastards doing?”

The public submission concerned the consultation for a third bridge in Cambridge, where Bydder lives, and attracted 23 complaints, including one from Hamilton mayor Paula Southgate.

Independent investigator Mary Hill concluded that Bydder should apologize to O’Regan and publicly to disability organizations IHC and the Cerebral Palsy Society. However (

he refused) and has so far ignored a recommendation that he receive behavioral training.

Bydder told RNZ he had ignored the recommendations because the process was corrupt.

“The deadlines have passed. It’s okay. I’m not going to do anything. I don’t think the council can do anything. They could ask me to resign, but I won’t. It’s a complete waste of time.”

He noted that he already publicly apologized for any offense during the council meeting to decide whether he had violated the code.

Cerebral Palsy Society president Daniel Clay said the organization had not received an apology from Bydder.

“The word shit describes a medical condition associated with cerebral palsy and should not be used in a derogatory manner,” Clay said. “People living with cerebral palsy have enough challenges in life without these types of comments being made.”

On Tuesday morning, Hamilton City Council chief executive Lance Vervoot issued a statement saying the code of conduct process had limitations in what it could do to manage poor behavior and performance by elected members.

“I share the disappointment expressed by Andrew Bydder’s council colleagues that the apology requested has not been made by the deadline. This is a missed opportunity for him to engage with the people and communities he has offended “.

Vervoot said Bydder also noted that it would not carry out the final recommendation of holding training before December 1.

“This was proposed to assist you in meeting the expectations of an elected member of Hamilton City Council, by your fellow councilors and community members, and to provide you with insight into your professional conduct.”

He said that given the lack of options available to force Bydder to comply with the sanctions, the council would not pursue the matter.

“This does not change the outcome of the code of conduct process, which found that the complaints identified material breaches of the code.

“He is expected to reconsider his refusal to comply with the council’s decisions, so that this code of conduct process can reach a full resolution.”

The council’s code of conduct is currently being reviewed.

Vervoot said the council supported New Zealand local government’s efforts to seek reform of the code of conduct process for all councils.

In July, shortly after RNZ revealed the submission of Bydder, Southgate and O’Regan wrote to the local government minister calling for the establishment of an independent arbitrator to deal with complaints about the council’s code of conduct. However, Simeon Brown rejected the request, saying he had no intention of intervening and expected councilors to fulfill their obligations under the Local Government Act.

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