Hamilton’s Fluoride Tribunal hearing got under way on Tuesday.

The four-day hearing will help Hamilton City councillors decide whether fluoride will continue to be added to Hamilton’s water.

A decision will not be made before next week.

Council received 1557 submissions on the issue – 1385 of those want council to stop fluoridation.

There were 170 submissions supporting the continuation of fluoride and two that were not specific.

Councillors expected to hear from about 150 individuals and organisations. Pro-fluoride submissions were expected to be heard first, while those who had adopted the ‘mass medication’ stance were expected to be heard later.

Waikato District Health Board spoke in support of fluoridation while Fluoride Free Hamilton and Fluoride Action Network NZ presented against.

The hearing, at Wintec’s Gallagher Hub on the central city campus, is being broadcast on the internet via a webstream.

Councillors will hear submissions over four days and will deliberate and decide next Wednesday whether to cease or continue fluoridation.

Council voted in December to adopt the tribunal style hearing.

To watch the hearing online visit www.hamilton.co.nz/fluoride.

SEE ALSO: Extraordinary Council Open Agenda

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