News Archive

Deadlines are fast approaching for councils who must fluoridate their drinking water supplies or face a hefty fine. It has caused anger in some places with one mayor claiming he’ll go to prison rather than follow the order. In 2022, then Director-General of Health Ashley Bloomfield issued the fluoride directive to 14 councils. Of those, […]

Last Friday Sarfati announced her resignation, effective from February 21. Lawyers warned that councillors refusing to comply with the March 28 fluoridation deadline risked imprisonment. Whang?rei Mayor Vince Cocurullo said he would go to prison over the principle of democratic freedom and the community being able to make its own fluoridation choice. Peters said the […]

Waip? District Council should join other councils in a legal challenge against the Ministry of Health edict to add fluoride to Cambridge drinking water, says campaigning US lawyer Michael Connett. Asked by The News what advice he would give the capacity crowd who attended a public meeting in Cambridge Town Hall last week, Connett said […]

A group of Marlburians have fronted the council with concerns about water chlorination and the potential fluoridation of the region’s water supply. The group, Marlborough Community Matters, wants the council to lobby with them against adding any fluoride to Marlborough’s water supply. But at a public forum on Tuesday, one councillor argued the “science prevails” […]

NZ First wades into fluoridated waters New Zealand First has launched a member’s bill that would return power to councils to decide whether or not to add fluoride to local drinking water. Stuff’s Karanama Ruru has the key details here, reporting that party leader Winston Peters said that public health measures should be decided with “transparency, debate, […]

Whang?rei District Council is risking imprisonment for its politicians as it continues to defy a government fluoridation order, lawyers have warned. At an urgent short-notice extraordinary meeting, the council today moved to continue its fight against fluoride. The often testy two-hour plus meeting was called after a very sternly-worded letter from Director General of Health […]

A battle between health officials and local councils is heating up, as one government party seeks to change the rules. The Bulletin’s Stewart Sowman-Lund explains. To receive The Bulletin in full each weekday, sign up here. NZ First wades into fluoridated waters New Zealand First has launched a member’s bill that would return power to councils […]

The city has until March 28 to fluoridate its central and eastern water supplies, after being granted an extension from April 30 last year. Whether it will comply will be decided on March 26. Non-compliance carries a maximum penalty of $200,000 and up to $10,000 a day for continuing offences. Chief oral health adviser Dr […]

NZ First’s Winston Peters is determined to give Kiwis the right to choose as part of a new bill. The Party has introduced a member’s bill that aims to repeal a 2021 fluoridation law – requiring councils to hold a referendum. It would look into the law giving the Director-General of Health authority to mandate having […]

The Health Minister says fluoride policy will not change, after New Zealand First announced a Member’s Bill which would restore decision-making power to local communities. It comes as Whang?rei District Council is under fire from the Director General of Health Dr Diana Sarfati after it voted in December against adding fluoridation to the water. Dr […]