Taumarunui Campaign
The Ruapehu District encompasses Taumarunui, National Park Village, Whakapapa Village, Waiouru, Ohakune, Raetihi and Pipiriki. Taumaruinui is the only township that has had fluoridation (1964 to 2011),
The Director-General of Health wrote to the Ruapehu District Council on 27 November 2022 to advise they can expect a Directive to fluoridate Taumarunui, Ohakune and Raetihi.
General Anaesthetics for Dental Decay decrease after fluoridation stopped
The Waikato DHB advise that when fluoridation was stopped in Taumarunui the dental team increased their oral health education and moved to some direct preventative measures such as direct application of fluoride varnish on pre-schoolers’ teeth. This is obviously a far better policy than fluoridation as it would appear this has had a very positive effect on reducing serious dental health problems. Providing education gives people life long ability to look after their own teeth and is far cheaper, as well as far safer, than general anaesthetics. So by their own admission there are viable alternatives to fluoridation. Note: Fluoride Free NZ does not advocate fluoride varnishes, but at least people do have the choice and they don’t have to have it for a lifetime.
Taumarunui Health Governance Group calls for fluoridation
Ruapehu Press 17 December 2014
Report gives fluoridation the all clear.
The Taumarunui Health Governance Group believes the science on the fluoridation of water is clear – that it is both safe and effective.
This is supported by the review Health Effects of Water Fluoridation: a Review of the Scientific Evidence that was commissioned by Sir Peter Gluckman, the New Zealand Prime Minister’s chief science advisor and Sir David Skegg, president of the Royal Society of New Zealand at the request of Auckland City on behalf of several local councils.
The report identifies there is compelling evidence that fluoridation of the water at the established and recommended levels produces broad and continuing benefits for the dental health of New Zealanders.
The Taumarunui Health Governance group wants to take responsibility for children in this area who are unable to speak for themselves and will be supporting a submission to the council in regards to re-introducing fluoride to the local water supply in 2015.
This stance is in line with the group’s perspective that a prevention approach is fundamental to the delivery of efficient and effective health services in the wider Taumarunui area.
Background to Stopping Fluoridation in 2011
The Ruapehu Taumarunui District Council voted to stop fluoridation after hearing submissions from the public as part of the Annual Plans in 2010 and then again in 2011.
Ruapehu District Councils Excellent Four Reasons for Stopping Fluoridation.jpg
July 2011: A letter of congratulations has been sent to the Ruapheu Taumarunui District mayor and councillors, See Taumarunui – Letter of Congratulations
This is how it happened:
In 2010 Mischele Rhodes and her father Ron, went to the Council and gave their submission to the Annual Plan. Cr Jeni Kydd, who had always taken fluoridation for granted, believing it to be safe and effective, just like most of us did before we found out the truth, was taken aback. But being conscientious and realising the people before her were honest, intelligent people – did the research. Jeni arranged that the Council invite Prof Paul Connett to talk when he was here in New Zealand, and at this year’s (2011) Annual Plan, Mischele, her Dad and Pat McNair gave submissions, and Jeni took the unprecedented step (for Taumarunui) of “crossing the floor” and speaking as a resident – and hey presto! The councillors voted to stop fluoridation.