South Taranaki

Taranaki Daily News 23rd May 2013 Opponents say fluoride a barbaric practice

30th April 2013

Legal Action is being taken against the South Taranaki District Council over in response to its decsion to introduce fluoridation to Patea and Waverley.  According to the Taranaki Daily News the action is based firstly on the legal right for a council to add fluoride to water supplies and In addition they are invoking the New Zealand Bill of Rights Act, which deals with the right to refuse to undergo medical treatment. Whatever the court ends up deciding will have far reaching implications for the rest of New Zealand since they are being asked, basically, if fluoridation is legal or not.

10th December 2012

The South Taranaki District Council (STDC) voted 10 - 3 to introduce forced fluoridation to Patea and Waverley despite the overwhelming opposition from the residents. Councillors Lawson, Self and Bigham voted No to fluoridation. The Taranaki Daily News article gives a one-sided account..

A press release by STDC says the MoH has given them a $360,000 grant toward the ne water plant for Patea. Could there have been any hidden strings attached?  According to the STDC they take advice from the Ministry of Health and the Taranaki District Health Board.  Who exactly in these organisations did they get advice from and how qualified were these people to give this advice?

Submissions received by Council in regard to the proposed fluoridation of Patea and Waverley.  Unofficial tally below:

Patea residents vow to stop this decision in its tracks. Please support them by "liking" their Patea for Pure Water Facebook page.

November 2012

 Council is inviting input to their proposal to fluoridate Patea and Waverley. 

To provide input either:
1.    Complete online form
2.    Send email to fluoride@stdc.govt.nz  
3.    Leave written feedback at the Patea and Waverley LibraryPlus centre
4.    Post feedback to the South Taranaki District Council, Private Bag 902, Hawera 4640.

Input must be received by the Council by 4 pm Friday 9 November 2012. Please state if you wish to speak at the Hearing on the 26th of November.

11th October 2012
Public meetings organised by the Council have now been run in both Waverley and Patea. Both were well attended by locals with the main feeling being against adding this chemical to the drinking water. The pro-fluoridation lobby consisted of Medical Officer of Health, Dr Simmons, a dentist from Waverley, a dentist from Hawera and another local dentist via a pre-recorded video clip. There were also about 6 DHB people in tow. See Taranaki Daily News.

26th September 2012

People from Hawera attended the Council meeting to demand that Hawera be included in the fluoridation consultation soon to be carried out in Patea and Waverley. According to Taranaki Daily News a "fiery debate" ensued.  South Taranaki District Council should be taking this opportunity to consult with Hawera residents as well, since Hawera residents have never been consulted.  However, it appears the Council's only intention is to push fluoridation onto the people,of Patea and Waverley.  Council have estimated that it will cost $130,000 to install fluoridation equipment in each town..

20th September 2012
Following on from a good article by local nutitionist, Helen Curtin, the DHB have a full page article countering the claims in Helen's article.  The DHB's responses are embarrasingly inaccurate. For instance they say that fluoride is a "non-essential nutrient". However, a non-essential nutrient is a nutrient that is manufactured by the body so is not essential to consume. In fact it is so eseential that the body makes it. The same terminology is used when describing essential fatty acids.  Fluoride is not manufactured by the body as there is absolutely no bodily requirement for it, Therefore it is not a "non-essential nutrient" and is not an essential nutrient. The DHB expect councillors to take their word for it that fluoride is safe and effective when they obviously do not even know this basic fact.

30th July 2012

Council advises that only 16 of the 117 submissions received requesting fluoridation of Patea and Waverley came from Patea or Waverley residents. Therefore, a grand total of 101 submissions were received from people outside the towns wanting to fluoridate them.

1st June 2012  The Taranaki Daily News reports that the South Taranaki District Council has decided to consult Patea and Waverely before they extend fluoridation to these towns.  Hawera residents now need to argue that Hawera people should be consulted too. A petition is in the wings.

FANNZ is keeping note of what councillors say about fluoridation while they are on council so that people will know how to vote for next elections. Click here to see what South Taranaki Councillors have had to say on fluoride so far.

Fluoridation Predominates Draft Annual Plan Submissions

Fluoridation was the most popular topic in the 2011/2012 draft Annual Plan submissions in South Taranaki.  Hawera is the only fluoridated town under the South Taranaki District Council but the Council is now considering fluoridating Patea and Waverley since their water supplies are in need of an upgrade.  With so many people submitting against fluoridation, that would seem a brave move by councillors. Although there is a good chance that the Council will wait until the Tribunal Hearing in New Plymouth in September before making any major decisions.

4th June 2011

Hawera is the only town under the South Taranaki District Council that is fluoridated, but now Patea and Waverley are under threat.
Fluoride Use Up in Air For Council - but big battle looms.

Fluoridation needs to be stopped for whole of South Taranaki.