News Archive

There’s little appetite among Hamilton’s West Ward candidates to revisit the fluoride debate. All but one of the 16 candidates contesting a seat in the city’s west fronted at a forum hosted by Hamilton West MP Tim Macindoe on Friday. About a third of the two-hour session was taken up by candidates introducing themselves to the 100-strong audience before the meeting […]

A Nelson Marlborough District Health Board (NMDHB) member says she has been bullied by the board chair after taking a stand against water fluoridation. However, a board spokesperson says action taken against member Judy Crowe at a meeting was taken because she breached protocol. Crowe alleges she endured three months of unwarranted intimidatory tactics from board chair Jenny Black since informally rescinding her support […]

Fluoridation of Canterbury’s drinking water is shaping up as a major issue at at October’s district health board elections. The government has proposed handing the decision to fluoridate to DHBs, forcing candidates to take a position on a contentious topic. With a population of more than 500,000, Canterbury is by far the region with the […]

Nine health board election candidates won’t say whether they support or object to water fluoridation. Of 22 candidates for the Canterbury District Health Board (CDHB) elections, nine remain undecided, six support fluoridation and six are against the measure, one could not be contacted. Government legislation expected to pass next year will give district health boards authority to fluoridate water […]

A tap providing fluoride-free water to the city will be turned on by the end of August. In April, city councillors voted unanimously to provide fluoride-free water at the Taitua Arboretum and the Claudelands Events Centre. Council’s city development manager Andrew Parsons said the Claudelands project was progressing well and expected the supply to be switched […]

An anti-fluoride group has crowdfunded almost $30,000 to fund a controversial national ad campaign with claims scientists call misleading. Fluoride-Free NZ bought four primetime ad spots on July 31 for thousands of dollars each, and plan to keep the campaign going. These are their first national TV ads. One ad compares New Zealand’s fluoridation with other […]

A Nelson Marlborough District Health Board member’s claim that it was embarking on “water fluoridation by stealth” has led to a tense exchange with board leaders. Board chairwoman Jenny Black called for a recess at a meeting of the community and public health advisory committee on Tuesday after she said committee chairwoman Judy Crowe was “abusing” her power. Crowe raised […]

A Nelson Marlborough District Health Board member’s claim that it was embarking on “water fluoridation by stealth” has led to a tense exchange with board leaders. Board chairwoman Jenny Black called for a recess at a meeting of the community and public health advisory committee on Tuesday after she said committee chairwoman Judy Crowe was “abusing” her power. Crowe raised […]

Nelson Marlborough District Health Board will not discuss water fluoridation despite some members of the public raising concerns. The health board decided it would not discuss the potential fluoridation of the region’s water until government legislation determined who is responsible for the decision. Nelson resident Carleen Reich-Simko addressed advisory committee members of the health board at a meeting on Tuesday over her concerns about water […]