News Archive

Anti-fluoride billboards erected in central Hamilton are misleading and possibly defamatory, the New Zealand Dental Association says. But one of the dentists pictured in the Fluoride Action Network New Zealand billboards in Ulster and Mill streets has hit back, saying the criticisms are reflective of a “police state”. The signs declare “informed dentists say no […]

Anyone wanting more information about the effects of continuing to add fluoride to Hastings water can get to one of three public meetings hosted by Hawke’s Bay District Health Board this month. The meetings in Havelock North, Hastings and Flaxmere are an opportunity for members of the public to hear from dental and medical experts […]

Peer-reviewed studies show fluoride does cause adverse health effects, write anti-fluoride campaigner and Dunedin psychiatrist Bruce Spittle and Dunedin dentist Russel McLean. Informed consent was not discussed by the 21 staff from the Otago School of Dentistry in their recent letter to the Dunedin city councillors (ODT, 21.8.13). They described community water fluoridation as the […]

Medical experts who were ignored over the fluoride decision are frustrated that misleading information was released by Hamilton City Council. The warning came after a council flier [see below] was circulated throughout the city with information the Waikato DHB and Ministry of Health officials said was misleading. DHB medical officer of Health Dr Anita Bell […]

The NZ Dental Association is in no position to claim the scientific high ground over the Hamilton city council. Fluoridated water affects every part of our body and dentists are only trained to treat the oral cavity, not the entire body. It is also irrational for them to criticise the Council for handing out dental […]

The Hamilton City Council’s leaflet to ratepayers about its decision to ban fluoride in their town water supply gives oral health information that is wrong, unscientific and misleading to Hamilton people, leading NZ dental authorities say. Dr Jonathan Broadbent, a public health dentistry specialist and researcher from the University of Otago’s Faculty of Dentistry – […]

Fluoridation should be forced on everyone through mandatory legislation says the NZ Dental Association, following yet another crushing defeat for its failed policy when Hamilton councillors voted 7 to 1 to stop fluoridation. This proposal was handed out to delegates at the recent Local Government NZ conference. Of course the document omitted the fact that […]

The approach some public health officials take to the fluoride debate is too ideological, and they may lose the argument through a lack of engagement, Southern District Health Board member Richard Thomson warns. Mr Thomson, who is also a Dunedin city councillor, was speaking at the community and public health committee meeting in Invercargill this […]

Mayor Julie Hardaker had the casting vote when it came to deciding on the wording for the referendum on fluoride to be held during the October local government elections. With councillor Angela O’Leary absent, votes were equally split on the motion to word the question “should Hamilton City public water supply be fluoridated?” at last […]

Unfortunately, just when the city council has successfully crossed the complex policy finish line, it appears to have tossed a political banana peel in its own path. As a result of political grandstanding, frustrated fluoride boosters will enjoy an extra bite of the public relations apple come October. Hamilton City Council has agreed to fund […]