Overrview as at 26 April 2024. For more detailed information see Local fluoride free campaigns.
Councils that were Directed in 2022
Summary
Out of the ten elected councils due to start this year, eight have pushed back at some stage, and one expected to push back at May meeting.
Two councils, Auckland and Western Bay of Plenty, have not yet started implementation as directives for 2025 and 2026.
One council, Tauranga, has a commissioner.
One council, New Plymouth, started fluoridation in June 2023 before High Court Ruling that directives were unlawful.
One council, Waipa has notice of motion for 14th May meeting to request an extension to start date.
One council, Rotorua did pause work on implementation but has now started a tender process
One council, Horowhenua, also paused work on implementation and we are not sure where they are at now.
Six councils, Far North, Whangarei, Kawerau, Tararua, Nelson and Waitaki, have requested extensions to their start date.
One council, Hastings, has started fluoridation despite High Court Ruling directive was unlawful. Legal action being taken against the council.
Auckland
Auckland council was directed to start fluoridation of Onehunga in June 2024. The status of this is unknown.
Council directed to start fluoridation in Waiuku by June 2026. No work has commenced on this and activity from the community who are largely unaware.
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..
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 will be presented at a council committee meeting on the 2nd May 2024.
Fluoride Free New Zealand and New Zealand Doctors Speaking Out with Science have filed an Injunction against the Hastings District Council. This will be heard on the 16th of May 2024 at the High Court in Wellington.
Horowhenua
The Horowhenua District Council paused fluoridation work in December 2023.
According to KCDC News “Chief Executive Monique Davidson says, “We are in a difficult position. We have been directed by Central Government to continue working towards fluoridating Levin’s water supply, but there is also a High Court preliminary ruling that a national directive to fluoridate water was unlawful. There is another High Court hearing in February next year which we hope will provide more clarity. In the meantime, we are pausing work on the project.”
“Chief Executive Monique Davidson has requested an extension from the Ministry of Health to push the deadline back until 30 June 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.
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.
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.
“Following the High Court ruling on this last year we paused implementation and sought further guidance and legal clarification from the director general of health about how to proceed with the government’s directive to fluoridate. We are still waiting on this,” she said.
Council has now started a tender process.
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.
Tauranga
As Tauranga City Council is run by a commissioner, residents feel there is nothing they can do so no real attempt has been made to oppose implementation in Tauranga. However, there is a large number of people in Tauranga who are opposed to this and are extremely angry.
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 last week to recommend the Waipa District Council:
- Request the Director General of Health for an extension
- Request the Director General of Health review the most up to date science and request and independent panel of experts to review the science as was done in the National Research Council 2006 Fluoride Toxicity Report, where there was a panel including scientists for, against and neutral.
- Request the Waipa District Council, in conjunction with other councils, fund a Tribunal Panel where both sides of the argument can be heard in public.
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.
On the 23rd April 2024 council voted to request an extension to the implementation date.
Councillor Hopkins then moved that the Waitaki Council “considers advocating on its own behalf, arguing that the principal of localism should apply and that the addition of fluoride to water supplies should therefore be discretionary”. This was seconded by Cr. Rebecca Ryan and passed unanimously.
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 not made any moves to implement fluoridation yet as 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 unamimously on Wednesday 24 April 2024 to request an extension to start date of all supplies.
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
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.