Would you please advise with a simple yes or no – if you are elected, would you support pressuring the coalition Government to bring forward, and vote for, the Member’s Bill introduced by NZ First, which seeks to repeal the Health (Fluoridation of Drinking Water) Amendment Act 2021 so that decision making for fluoridation can be returned to the hands of each local council?
I would support this repeal, definitely. Fluoride should be nowhere near our drinking water. If someone wants to supplement, they can take tablets.
Jonathan Gilbert
I agree with Jonathon.
I have always considered it to be a good idea to have it in our drinking water, but I am also happy for this to be something that individual Councils decide.
There seems to be an assumption that central govt are not at risk of changing the policy…a libertarian leadership could remove the requirement.
I am very open to receiving and considering any further research and information on this issue before confirming my stand on whether Council should take the decision or not.
I believe decisions of this scale, which directly affect community health and wellbeing, should be informed by clear evidence, transparency, and robust engagement with residents. I would welcome any additional information you can share to ensure that my approach is both well-informed and reflective of the community’s best interests.Thank you Mary for clarifying that there is a lot more research and information out there that is not necessarily well considered by our agencies in NZ.
My leadership style is listening and acting on expert advice from multiple sources to make an informed decision.
No. I see fluoridation of drinking water as a critical issue that sits with the central government.
Murray Gibbons
No.
No, I wouldn’t, I feel there are enough experts out there doing great work investigating and advising others, without the need to bring in another level of decision making.
Thank you for the inquiry. I am also a “no”, for the same reason Simon expresses below.
George MacKay
My grandfather a dentist helped advocate for fluoridation of our water.
Im not a scientist or a dentist but in talking to my dentist now he says its a good thing.
Im not sure (not really a simple answer yes or no) is it.
The reason that it has been taken out of the hands of the local council is so there is no inequity in who receives it, as it is most beneficial for low SE communities who may not use toothpaste with fluoride, or get fluoride any other way.
If elected I will only be a board member which is under a council so I wont would not have a say in this decision if came back to councils unless it was to find out what my local community that my board serves wants to do. In regards to this having grown up with no fluoride in my water and then having to take fluoride tablets it was not good having to do that. I am happy for this decision to be left with central government as councils have enough to deal with at the moment in the next 3 years.
This topic isn’t a simple yes or no question.
There are significant details that would need to be unpacked that go far beyond the bill, so for now this would be a no from me.