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?

Daniel Welch 

Yes – I believe the decision on fluoridation should be returned to each individual council, rather than being set centrally. Local communities are best placed to have a say on issues that directly affect them.

David McNicholas

Yes

Helen Swales

Yes – I believe local communities should have a voice on decisions like fluoridation, and councils are best placed to reflect that.

Brett Thomson

If you wanted to you could encourage more people to use rain water tanks and then this would not be an issue at an individual choice level. 
We have rain water tanks because we live rurally. These options exist in the city as well. 
I support local decision making but I doubt this will change the outcome if the decision is local.

Rachel Tukaki Kingi

Yes — I support decision-making on local water supply, including fluoridation, being returned to councils. I believe these decisions should be made locally, in consultation with our communities. I’m not anti-fluoride, but I am pro-choice when it comes to what goes into my body. I believe decisions about fluoridation should be made locally, by councils in consultation with residents — not mandated by central government. Our community deserves to have a direct say in matters that affect our health and daily lives.

Michael Anderson

This would mean that the fluoridation issue would become entrenched in Council business, and generate a cost to the ratepayers, which concerns me, however local decision making on this issue is important.
 
It so happens I had a conversation with Dr Shane Reti back in May 2023 about being quizzed on fluorine(ide) during council elections, and how it’s not actually listed as an element required for human nutrition.  His response was that putting fluoride in the water works, and they (meaning the medical profession) really didn’t know why.  He gave another example of ‘Digitalis’, with which I countered ‘Paracetamol’… and we parted on good terms.  And yes, nobody knows how Paracetamol works!
 
There is no doubt that the pure chemical put into drinking water out of a drum is dangerous in concentration, but then so is the chlorine bleach..

Cr Tracey Ultra

This members bill hasn’t been drawn yet and it cant be scheduled in parliament until it is drawn. So my answer is no, we can’t make it happen any faster.
The decision to return fluoridation decisions to councillors would also require a binding referendum.
I am living in a rural location so our rain water isn’t fluoridated.   I asked my dentist what rural people do and he said that as long as we use fluoridated toothpaste it would be ok. Also he said that there is fluoride in tea and processed foods so we do get some even if it’s not in our water.

Wade Cashmore

No

Matt Carey 

No, I support the setting of health standards and maximum acceptable values in water by Health and Taumata Arowai, not by a political decision.

Teresa Homan

I have lived in Upper Hutt since childhood, and I believe we have always put fluoride in our water at least since I was around 10 years old. I would rather advocate with central government for free dental care for all on health budget. And that all children have access to food that supports healthy teeth. This is though a central government issue rather than a council one which I would have input into as a voter.

Nigel Mander 

I was ten years old when my family moved from Taranaki to Wellington. I don’t have very good teeth. I think my younger siblings have better teeth than I.
Wellington region’s water is (usually) fluoridated. I trust dentists who say people’s teeth are better if they grow up with fluoride in their water supply.
Our council has enough to worry about without rehashing old arguments.
My simple answer is NO.