Overview as at 14 March 2025. For more detailed information see Local fluoride free campaigns

Councils that were Directed in 2022

Summary 
Out of the 11 elected councils due to start this year, all have pushed back at some stage, and one has not even started building the infrastructure yet.

Despite the directives being found “unlawful” by the High Court in November 2023 most councils have now started fluoridation under the continued threat of severe penalties by the Dr Diana Sarfati, the Director-General of Health (update – Dr Sarfati resigned in February 2025).

  • Auckland has not started Waiuku as not due until 2026.

  • Far North was due to start before the end of the year but mayor advised in 12 December 2024 meeting that it has been extended until March 2026.

  • Horowhenua, also paused work on implementation and requested an extension because of legal uncertainty however, extension was not granted. Fluoridation started on 11 December 2024.

  • Nelson started in December 2024.

  • Rotorua paused work on implementation last year, but now ordered to have work completed by March 2025. Due to start 28 March 2025.

  • Waipa was meant to start in July 2023 but has not started building the infrastructure yet.

  • Western Bay of Plenty, has agreed to the funding but has not yet started implementation as directive is for June 2025.

  • Whangarei council is seeking an injunction against the directive which is due to be heard at the High Court on Tuesday 18 March 2025. If this is not successful Whangarei will start fluoridation on 28 March 2025. However, a substantive case against the Directive will be heard in court later in the year and if that is sucessful fluoridation will be stopped.

Auckland 

Auckland council was directed to start fluoridation of Onehunga in June 2024. The council has sent public notification that they intend to start in July 2024.

Council directed to start fluoridation in Waiuku by June 2026. No work has commenced on this and there has been a bit of activity from the community who are starting to be aware. 

Far North
Residents have attended and spoke at the council. They have been gathering signatures of residents who are opposed to fluoridation (not yet presented).
Councillors decided in April to send letter to MoH requesting an extension to the introduction of fluoridation but this request has been declined. Due to start by the end of 2024. However, the mayor advised at the 12 December 2024 meeting that extension has now been given until March 2026.

Hastings 

Hastings District council was directed to start fluoridation of July 2023. They have now started it on Monday the 8th April 2024. 

Three protests have been held in Hastings since then. A petition is being circulated and was presented at a council committee meeting on the 2nd May 2024.

Fluoride Free New Zealand and New Zealand Doctors Speaking Out with Science filed an Injunction against the Hastings District Council that was heard on the 16th of May 2024 at the High Court in Wellington. A ruling on the 24th of May declared that the Hastings District Council acting legally and fluoridation could continue.

Horowhenua
The Horowhenua District Council paused fluoridation work in December 2023 but extension was not granted and they were ordered to start fluoridation by 30 December 2024. On the 11th December council voted to write to the council to ask if fines would be enforced if fluoridation was stopped and also asked for staff to keep a watching brief to be kept on Whangarei District Council. This leaves the issue alive.
Fluoridation started on 11 December 2024.

Kawerau

Residents have attended and spoke at council meetings. A petition to council has received 732 signatures. On Wednesday 24 April 2024 councillors voters to request an extension to the implementation date.
In a previous meeting the mayor has indicated the council is not comfortable with fluoridation but are “between a rock and a hard place” because of the threat of fines. “Who would want to be an elected representative when you are told to consult about everything except what we direct you to do”. “Would like to follow what Mayor Nick Smith’s lead so long as there are no financial penalties”.

Watch council meeting on Kawerau District Council facebook page.

Fluoridation started in Kawerau on the 30th September 2024.

Nelson 
Residents attended and spoke at Council meeting, held large public meeting. Residents are collecting signatures for a petition.
In a letter to the Minister on 15 February, Mayor Nick Smith requested an extension to the implementation date saying “We are proceeding with the engineering work but we cannot be expected to proceed when the latest advice from the Ministry is “the implications of the judgment are being considered”.”
Council granted extension until 31 December 2024. Fluoridation started in December 2024.

New Plymouth
New Plymouth District Council started fluoridation in July 2022 as they were directed to do. The council had stopped fluoridation in 2011 after an extensive consultation and enquiry, but had kept the fluoridation equipment so was able to easily reinstall it. This decision was made before the High Court ruling that the directives were unlawful.
The council faced large public opposition, but to no avail.

Rotorua 

Residents attended and spoke at council meeting, held public meeting.

In February 2024 Rotorua mayor Tania Tapsell said all fluoridation work was on hold.

Rotorua District Council has been granted an extension to March 2025. The Council has also agreed to build the infrastructure ready for March 2025.

Council has written a letter to Minister of Health requesting a suspension of their directive and a call for a public inquiry. As at 14 March 2025 they have not had a reply to that. Fluoridation is due to start on 28 March 2025 and is likely to go ahead.

Tararua
Residents have been attending and speaking at council meetings. 170 people attended a public meeting on 23 April 2024. Residents have so far collected over 600 signatures on a petition.
Council has finally sent a letter to the Ministry of Health requesting an extension to the date of starting fluoridation. Request was declined and fluoridation started on the 1st of September 2024.

Tauranga

After a huge amount of feedback to the council, over 200 people at a council meeting and protests, the council ultimately decided to start fluoridation. The mayor and two councillors opposed the move. Fluoridation started on or around the 28th October 2024.

Waipa
Residents have been attending and speaking at community board and council meetings. 70 people attended the Cambridge Community Board meeting last month to show their opposition to the Directive to fluoridate Cambridge.
A motion was passed at the Te Awamutu and Kihikihi Community Board recommending the Waipa District Council take action. See Cambridge News 31 October 2024. Fluoridation has not yet started..

Waitaki
Residents have been attending and speaking at council meetings. Over 100 people attended a public meeting. Public presented a petition with over 500 signatures collected over only a few weeks.
The public have had a protest in the street and days of picketing outside the council offices. The public continue to appear at council and speak to the councillors. 

Waitaki District Council started fluoridation on the 8th of July 2024.
Results of fluoride laboratory tests sought by residents found the levels to be over 1ppm. Council subsequently stopped fluoridation on 11 October 2024. It was restarted in February 2025.

Western Bay of Plenty
Residents have attended and spoke at community board and council meetings. A public meeting in October 2023 was attended by 170 people.
Council sought an exemption from the Ministry of Health, but this was denied.

Council has agreed to build the infrastructure for fluoridation but they are not required to start until June 2025.

Whangarei

Residents have been attending and speaking at council meetings. Residents also holding protests at various places.

Council voted unanimously on Wednesday 24 April 2024 to request an extension to start date of all supplies. An extension until February 2025 was granted. Cr Benney’s motion to the 28 November 2024 meeting to reject the directive was successful with 7 for 6 against and 1 abstainer.

On 18 December 2024 the council voted to seek an Interim Injunction. If injunction is not successful Whangarei will start fluoridation on 28 March 2025 but has a substantive case against the Directive which will be heard in court later in the year.

Councils Fluoridated prior to 2022 Directives

Auckland – all Auckland suburbs except Onehunga and Huia Village.  Fluoride Free Auckland formed in 2013. Councillors rejected a motion to fluoridate Onehunga at that time. However, the council have now been given a directive to start fluoridation of Onehunga and Waiuku (see above).

Hamilton Stopped Fluoridation on the 5th of June 2013 but a subsequent referendum found 68% of voters in favour of fluoridation. Council decided on the 28th of February 2014 to restart fluoridation in June 2014. Legal action by SWANZ was withdrawn on the 3rd of September 2014.

Thames – Referendum in November 2015 found 73% of Thames voters wanted fluoridation to continue  Thames Council – Thames fluoride referendum.

 Whakatane – referendum result 61% of voters in favour of fluoridation, 39% of voters against. In January 2016, Council voted to end fluoridation 6 – 5. This vote was reversed 8 days later with a vote 6 – 4. The vote hinged on one councilor reversing his position. Read the press release.

 Gisborne District Council – Gisborne city only fluoridated town, no major activity.

 South Waikato District Council – Tokoroa only fluoridated town, no major activity.

Waikato District Council – Quite a few towns are fluoridated in this region, Ngaruawahia being the largest. The Council voted to uphold their 2011 decision to extend fluoridation to Te Kauwhata and Hopuhopu. Fluoride will be added to the Te Kauwhata water plant which supplies Te Kauwhata, Meremere and Springhill Prison. This leaves water supplies in Hopuhopu, Raglan, Pokeno, Tuakau and Port Waikato as not being fluoridated. Budget provision has been made by the Waikato Council for fluoridation of Hopuhopu’s water.

Taupo District Council – Taupo and Turangi are fluoridated. FFNZ has started a petition against Taupo Council adding toxic fluoride chemicals to Lake Taupo Outcome of submissions to 2015 draft annual plan was that Council decided to review fluoridation as part of the 2017 Long Term Plan. Nothing seemed to eventuate from that. However, there is a good active group in Taupo.

Manawatu District Council – Fielding only fluoridated town.

Palmerston North – Due to lots of submissions in 2013 led to a review of fluoridation. 25th May 2013  Manawatu Standard – Mayor wants fluoride review. $10,000 was spent on a review by Beca Consultancy in 2014 with the result being the continuation of fluoridation. Council have now built a tap at Papaioea Park to provide fluoridation free water .

Stratford District Council – only town of Stratford fluoridated, no major activity.

South Taranaki District Council – Hawera only fluoridated town at this stage although council voted in 2013 to extend to Patea and Waverley despite finding out vast majority did not want it. Judicial Review was lodged with New Plymouth District Council objecting to the decision on the basis that fluoridation has no legal standing and is a breach of human right. 30th April 2013 Taranaki Daily News – Ruling Ends up in Court. On 7 March 2014 the Judge gave a result that New Health’s application to review the Council’s decision fails. 

Masterton District Council – Masterton only fluoridated town in whole of Wairarapa.

Kapiti Coast District Council  – Nearly stopped in 2010 but ended up only reducing the level to 0.7ppm. Kapiti News – Fluoride labelled a Poison  Fluoridation was on the Draft Annual Plan for 2014. The Council decided to continue fluoridation on 5 June 2014.

 Porirua City Council – Porirua fluoridated since 1965, no major activity.

 Upper Hutt City Council – Council agreed to lobby Regional Council to stop fluoridation June 2011. No major activity since then.

Lower Hutt Council held discussion with Fluoride Free New Zealand and the Hutt Valley DH in November 2015. The mayor has indicated the issue was not closed but looks unlikely Council will make any moves this year (2016) because it is election year.

Wellington city councillors are mostly Green party affiliated, so can be expected to be very pro-fluoridation.

 Dunedin City Council – Have lowered the level below MoH recommendations 15th May 2013 ODT Council opts to drop fluoride level.

Clutha – Clutha fluoridated since 1960s or 1970s. Council decided to start fluoridation in Milton, Kaitangata and Tapanui in 2011. In 2019 we discovered that they had been over-dosing with three instances of going to 2ppm. This caused the council to stop fluoridation while they fixed the machinery. Council ended up spending $500,000 replacing the fluoridation equipment and restarting fluoridation in 2024.

 Invercargill – Lots of submissions in 2013 but councillors decided to continue without any public consultation.