Disability Issues Minister is also the MP for Taupō which takes in Cambridge. Photo: RNZ By Natalie Akoorie Warning: Coarse language. Disability Issues Minister Louise Upston has rebuked a Hamilton City councillor for comments described as ableist slurs in an expletive-laden rant to a neighbouring council.
First-term councillor Andrew Bydder also insulted Waipā mayor Susan O'Regan in the submission on the placement of a third bridge in Cambridge. Bydder, an architectural designer who lives in Cambridge, told O'Regan to "Get off your fat arse and do your job" and opened the feedback with: "What the f**k are you r******d s*****c c**ts doing?". After RNZ revealed the comments on Tuesday, nine formal complaints were made about Bydder's conduct including one from Hamilton Mayor Paula Southgate on Friday, prompting a legal review to determine if an investigation should be opened.
Andrew Bydder Photo: Supplied "Words matter, and using derogatory terms that are vulgar and disrespectful to the disability community just to get attention is not acceptable." Vision Impaired NZ national executive director for parents Dr Rebekah Graham called on Bydder to publicly apologise and give a sizeable donation to Cerebral Palsy NZ and IHC. "The word 'r******d' is an offensive ableist slur that discriminates against the intellectually/learning disabled community.
"It has long since been discarded from use and is widely considered pejorative. It is considered by some in the community to be hate .