Background to 2021 Directives

Background to Directives sent in 2021

The Health (Fluoridation of Drinking Water) Amendment Bill aka the Mandatory Fluoridation Bill was enacted in 2021. Directives have been sent to 14 councils to order them to start fluoridation. A further 27 councils have been sent a letter of intention of a directive. Details on this page.

In 2016 the National party introduced the Health (Fluoridation of Drinking Water) Amendment Bill. The Bill, which sought to take decision making away from local councils to the District Health Boards, went through a Select Committee process in February 2017.

At the election in November 2017, the National party was replaced with a coalition of Labour, the Greens and New Zealand First. The New Zealand First party kept the legislation at bay so that it remained waiting for its Second Reading throughout their term in Government.

At the election in October 2020, the Labour party was voted in without the need for any coalition partner and New Zealand First did not make the 5% threshold to be in parliament at all.

In early 2021 Labour announced that they would change the legislation to make the Director General of Health will be the sole decision maker.

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I’m fairly sensitive to chemicals and have always avoided diet products, as aspartame affects me noticeably. A few years ago, I decided to try fluoride-free toothpaste. Since then, my health has improved in several ways. I no longer drool at night or wake up with a sore throat. My skin is clearer, and I no longer experience sudden tooth pain.

I’ve generally lived in areas where the water was not fluoridated and relied on rain tank water from 2002 to 2013. These days, I use a water distiller and occasionally drink bottled water. While working in Thames recently, I started getting sore throats after drinking hot chocolate made with boiled tap water—something I hadn’t experienced in years.

My son, who is 100% unvaccinated and was raised on raw milk and tank water, has never had a cavity at age 22. We lived in Paeroa and Cambridge, where I was assured the water was fluoride-free.

I initially tried Red Seal toothpaste, then explored several Indian brands. I currently prefer Rozino and Xiaoks, which I order from Temu.

Pamela, Paeroa

Sore throat from fluoride – even the toothpaste