PM Luxon Nails NZ Councils
People with competency need to stand. This is my request to those that read this: the nation needs you to front up. If you are unable to stand as a candidate, get behind competent people who will. They need support.
Andrew Bydder
We’ve Had Enough of the Whingers
The Waikato Settlement Centre is a building in central Hamilton to support immigrants and refugees from around the world. The recently revamped and extended building, partly funded by Hamilton City Council, was due to open last Thursday but that got cancelled when there was news of a planned Palestinian protest
An Example of Rage Against the Machine
A message I sent to Waipa Council as a private citizen and resident of the district has caused headlines across the country. You may or may not agree with the message (and I am not defending it here) but the follow-up will give you a deep insight into how the
This Is a Bridge Too Far
The sleepy, leafy suburbs of quaint conservative Cambridge were torn apart by the Waipa District Council’s infamous BLUE BLOB. Residents awoke to the local newspaper’s report about a new bridge location and the shifting of the town’s main arterial route through their back streets. There was no
Council Reaches New Low
We have all heard about the $500,000 speed bumps in Auckland, and wondered how it could possibly cost so much to put a foot of asphalt across a street. Waipa Council, south of Hamilton, has outdone Auckland. In order to create new speed bumps on the main road north
The Treaty vs Te Tiriti
Far too much has been written and said about the Treaty of Waitangi. I say this because the great Maori leader, Sir Apirana Ngata published the definitive work on it in 1922. There really is no need for anything else. A copy of his book, The Treaty of Waitangi – an
Hamilton Council Rates up 54%
While this article uses Hamilton as the example, it really applies to all councils facing the same problem for the same reason. News that Hamilton City Council has proposed a 25.5% rates rise next year does not tell the full story. It is planned to be followed with a
Should We Cancel Some of the Councils?
* The author, Andrew Bydder, is a Hamilton City Councillor. These are his personal views. Voter turnout for council elections is around 33%. It is hard to describe the results as democratic when, for whatever reason, the majority don’t see voting as worthwhile. Clearly, something is wrong. The usual complaint
What Cost Him the Mayoralty
Information Opinion It is hard to oust incumbents (Tim Shadbolt’s mental decline being an exception) but the three-term mayor of Waipa, Jim Mylchreest, lost by 1900 dog-loving votes after the BFD published my article Council to Ban Dogs from Park in June. Jim had an opportunity to make amends
Best of the Bunch for Hamilton
Information Opinion The battleground for our culture, western technology, and common sense is moving to the local government elections. Soros-funded green groups are active in New Zealand while the Ardern-funded MSM are doing hit pieces on anyone with Freedom Party links. Most councils have finally found some backbone over Three
Council to Ban Dogs from Dog Park
For 160 years, people of any skin colour have been able to walk their loved family pets around Lake Te Ko Utu in the heart of Cambridge. The east end of the lake reserve is a designated off-lead exercise area. It is a beautiful spot with a flat track sheltered
Covid Money Printing Coming Home to Roost
Price changes take time. As the Ukraine war drives up wheat prices now, we know that flour prices will follow soon after; this will eventually lead to bread prices climbing once current flour stocks are used up. The costs get passed on down the chain, but there are lags along
Activists Think They Are above the Law
Andrew Bydder Information Parody Despite the ongoing disruption to businesses all over New Zealand, Cuddles Coster and his police force refuse to end the illegal occupation at Parliament. The 120 activists behave like they are above the law. They abuse fellow citizens who are just going about their daily lives
Politicians Fail to Do the Math
Politicians and journalists are good with words but bad with numbers. Put a % behind a poll number, and they make decisions while ignoring the important statistical error margins. Put a $ in front of a number, and they stop thinking altogether. A Waikato Times article on Three Waters tacked on a
NZ Media Repeat Known Myth
On the first anniversary of the January 6th Capitol Riot TVNZ had a reporter broadcasting live from the grounds in front of the Capitol building. She repeated the media myth that six people died in the riot, including a police officer. The death of the police officer, Brian Sicknick, was
Biggest Change to Councils in a Generation
In another decade, 2021 will be remembered as a momentous year for reasons other than covid, namely the biggest change to councils in a generation. Incredibly, I am not talking about the race relations divide of the Three Waters reform, which will have massive consequences. There was an even bigger