Yet again, people who live in the Far North are forced to mount a campaign to stop enforced fluoridation of their drinking water.
Back in 2010, a survey of public opinion resulted in a clear ‘no’ for fluoridation and the Far North District Council of the time listened.
This time it’s different.
Now councils throughout the country are being stripped of this decision making and residents are at the mercy of the government that has signalled that it will.impose the controversial additive to water supplies. No public consultation is required. A ‘Local Transitional Team’ has already been established.
At present.none of Northland's 17 reticulated council water supplies are fluoridated.
Compulsory fluoridation in Northland will cost more than $3 million - for Whangārei, Bream Bay, Kaitāia and Kerikeri.
Councils have 40 working days, until June 29, to respond to a request for strengthened cost and timeline information.
So a new community campaign is up and running in the Far North.
Citizens are urging Far North District Councillors to publicly oppose and do all it can to stop the Government’s Three Waters policy, which takes decision making away from local communities.
They also ask the Council to withdraw from Local Government New Zealand and demand that it return to advocating for councils by opposing Three Waters.
Far North Councillor John Vujcich says many elected members are very concerned about the Three Waters reforms.
“I have always seen three water assets, as well as other assets of Councils, as community assets that Council manages on behalf of its communities. To see it going into the hands of a large centralised agent that has no directly accountable to local communities via its elected members is a big concern.
“FNDC has argued that consultation is needed, and in fact the Local Government Act requires Councils to consult with its people on all matters that are deemed to have significant impact on communities. Three Waters reform certainly does and FNDC conducted an online and postal ‘consultation’. This was really all we could do in the allocated time we had.
“The overwhelming response was for us to opt out of the reforms and Council, on August 12 2021, in a council meeting, voted to do so.”
However the government is moving ahead, contrary to the promise that councils had the choice to opt out.
Cr Vujcich says the Far North District Council is continuing to push for a better option.
The Director-General of Health is required to consider scientific evidence on the effectiveness of adding fluoride to and whether the benefits of adding it to drinking water outweigh the costs.
About fluoride
Fluoride is found naturally in soil, water, and foods. It is also produced synthetically for use in drinking water, toothpaste, mouthwashes and various chemical products.
Adding fluoride to drinking water helps prevent tooth decay.
However, concerns have arisen regarding fluoride’s effect on health, including problems with bones, teeth, and neurological development.
It’s advised that children below the age of six years should not use a mouthwash that contains fluoride. Children should be supervised when brushing their teeth to ensure they do not swallow toothpaste.
What does the World Health Organisation say?
The WHO notes that long-term exposure to drinking water that contains more than 1.5 ppm fluoride can lead to health problems. The WHO’s guideline limit is 1.5 ppm.
The argument for:
Using fluoride in water protects teeth and reduces the need for costly dental procedures.
The argument against:
Fluoride is a neurotoxin which, in high doses, can be harmful and could be hazardous to child development.
Excessive exposure can lead to tooth discolouration and bone problems.
There is enough fluoride in the water already, without adding more.
People have the right to choose whether or not they take medications.
Those who wish to supplement with fluoride can already do so, with a variety of available products such as fluoride rinses, toothpastes and pills.
Babies under 6 months old should not be given added fluoride.
Different people need different amounts of substances such as fluoride.
It may be harmful for the environment.
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