News Archive

After 44 years of water fluoridation, Whakatane District Council has voted to end the out-dated practice. Instead, they will consider providing funds to the District Health Board for targeted oral health programmes, like CHILDSMILE, which has been successful in Scotland for more than a decade. Because of this programme, Scottish children now have better teeth […]

Water fluoridation is set to become a national election issue, according to a long-time Timaru anti-fluoride campaigner. Debate over the controversial issue was reignited in South Canterbury when the South Canterbury District Health Board’s (SCDHB) community and public health committee voted to recommend a position statement supporting fluoridation to the full board. The move led to […]

The decision on whether fluoridation of Whakatane District water supplies will continue, be expanded or cease will be made in January. The Whakatane District Council’s Policy Committee agreed it had sufficient information to make a decision, informed by the results of the non-binding referendum carried out alongside the 2013 elections. However, the Committee will invite […]

South Canterbury mayors are calling for central government to take responsibility for the controversial issue of water fluoridation. The Mackenzie and Waimate district mayors have presented a united front to back calls by Timaru District Mayor Damon Odey for the issue to be decided by central government rather than local councils. The polarising issue was […]

More pressure should be put on the Timaru District Council over fluoridating the district’s water supply, according to a local dentist. Debate around the controversial issue of fluoridation was reignited last week after the South Canterbury District Health Board’s (SCDHB) community and public health committee voted to recommend a position statement supporting fluoridation to the full […]

The South Canterbury District Health Board (SCDHB) may be set to throw its support behind fluoridating water supplies. The controversial issue was raised at the DHB’s community and public health committee meeting on Friday, where members voted to recommend a position statement to the full board. If approved, the statement would mean the SCDHB would […]

The Nelson Marlborough Health Board have been asked by members of the public what it will take for them to consider changing their position on water fluoridation. A group of concerned Nelson residents attended the public forum of the recent NMDHB meeting to express their concerns over the fluoridation of water in the region. Sara […]

Claims by David Crum, CEO of the New Zealand Dental Association (NZDA) are incorrect and designed to mislead the public ahead of the Thames referendum on water fluoridation, says FFNZ spokesperson Mary Byrne. Mr.Crum accused those opposed to fluoridation of having “outdated, poorly informed and inaccurately biased views”, and cites the 2014 Royal Society Review […]

Voting packs have been mailed out to all registered eligible voters in the Thames water supply area of service for the referendum on the use of fluoride in the Thames water supply. The voting packs will start to appear in mailboxes over the next few days. If you are expecting a voting pack and it […]

Despite tensions flaring over fluoride, a meeting on the direction of the region’s healthcare system was “useful” and showed the level of passion about healthcare in the community, says Nelson Marlborough DHB chief executive Chris Fleming. More than 100 people packed a public room for the community engagement meeting hosted by Fleming, NMDHB board strategy […]