Andrew Judd is a New Zealand local government politician and activist. He won the mayoralty off one-term incumbent [[Harry Duynhoven]] with a resounding 9,206 vote majority in [[New Zealand local elections, 2013|2013]]<ref>{{cite news |url=http://www.stuff.co.nz/national/politics/local-body-elections/9276598/Andrew-Judd-elected-mayor-of-New-Plymouth|title=Andrew Judd elected mayor of New Plymouth|publisher=Stuff.co.nz |work=Taranaki Daily News |date=12 October 2013 |accessdate=30 October 2016</ref> and served one term before announcing he would not stand again in 2016.<ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.stuff.co.nz/taranaki-daily-news/news/79689793/new-plymouth-mayor-andrew-judd-announces-he-will-not-stand-for-reelection|publisher=Stuff.co.nz |work=Taranaki Daily News |authour=Hannah Lee |date=6 May 2016 |accessdate=30 October 2016</ref>

In 2014 Judd caused controversy when he and his council supported the establishment of a special Māori ward in [[New Plymouth]] in a move intended to increase Māori representation, lift Iwi participation in council decision-making and fulfill [[Treaty of Waitangi]] obligations. Additionally, Judd also called for all councils in [[New Zealand]] to be half-Māori.<ref>{{cite news |url=http://www.stuff.co.nz/national/politics/63475174/mayor-calls-for-half-maori-councils|publisher=Stuff.co.nz |work=Taranaki Daily News |authour=Taryn Utiger |date=24 November 2014 |accessdate=30 October 2016</ref> The proposals were widely crticised by politicians and the media, with [[New Zealand First]] leader [[Winston Peters]] calling arguments for the ward "childish nonsense" <ref>{{cite news |url=http://www.stuff.co.nz/national/politics/63475174/mayor-calls-for-half-maori-councils|publisher=Radio Newtwork|work=Newstalk ZB |date=9 December 2014 |accessdate=30 October 2016</ref> and right-wing media personality [[Mike Hosking]] labeling Judd "completely out of touch with middle New Zealand".<ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.stuff.co.nz/national/politics/63475174/mayor-calls-for-half-maori-councils|publisher=Stuff.co.nz |date=May 9 2016 |accessdate=30 October 2016</ref> 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 [[Nazism|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.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.tvnz.co.nz/one-news/new-zealand/had-man-dressed-in-nazi-uniform-come-see-me-new-plymouth-mayor-wont-seek-re-election-wake-racial-hate|publisher=Television New Zealand |work=Seven Sharp (ONE NEWS) |date=May 6 2015 |accessdate=30 October 2016</ref> Judd, a [[New Zealand European]], labels himself a "recovering racist".<ref>http://morganfoundation.org.nz/andrew-judd-realised-recovering-racist/</ref>

However, Judd gained the admiration and recognition of notable political figures, including [[Member of parliament|MP]] [[Marama Fox]] who called for his critics to apologise in a general debate speech before parliament.<ref>https://www.parliament.nz/en/pb/hansard-debates/rhr/document/51HansS_20160511_00001000/fox-marama-general-debate</ref>. Support for Judd also flowed on social media, with a [[Facebook]] group named "Andrew Judd Fan Club" reaching 10,500 members.<ref>http://www.stuff.co.nz/taranaki-daily-news/79746939/Support-on-social-media-flows-for-New-Plymouth-mayor</ref>