Hastings District Council
COUNCILLORS| Councillor |
Fluoridation |
Position statement |
| Ru Collin | For |
As a candidate for the Heretaunga Ward for the Hastings district council, most of my area is outside of Hastings, Flaxmere and Havelock North communities, where the water is fluoridated. Many of my constituents would be getting water direct from groundwater takes. It is therefore difficult for me to accurately know how many constituents would be drinking fluoridated water and how many are not. I grew up on fluoridated water. Now grown up, I have survived quite happily mainly from groundwater bore water for many years. To answer the questions below; 1. Do you support fluoridation? Yes 2. If not, what definite steps would you take, if you are elected, to stop fluoridation in this area? Regardless, I would seek to find proven effects from the plains area 3. If you do support fluoridation, do you believe that it is acceptable for councilors to rely on the advice by the Ministry of Health and disregard the opinion of the people who pay for and drink the water? Yes council should rely on ministry of health, and yes, council need to act in the best interests of the majority of its constituents 4. If you are not sure, would you support a referendum or some sort of consultative process? Yes |
| Simon Nixon |
For |
I am convinced fluoridation does improve dental health. I was bought up on tank water and compare the state of my teeth to my son who at 34 years has only one or two fillings. I wish fluoridation had existed when I was a child. Poor teeth are something I wish on no one. I recall there was a referendum in Hastings some years ago that voted in favour of fluoridation though if II remember correctly not by a huge margin. Certainly there is a sizeable portion of the community that disagree. As with all local government decisions I am reluctant to force my views on the wider community. I am opposed to creating additional cost to ratepayers of a new referendum but it might be possible to combine a vote on this issue with a number of others such as amalgamation. And if there was sufficient pressure such a vote could be included in future elections. Certainly I have no problem in abiding with the majority view on the issue though I will be voting in favour. |
| Henare O'Keefe |
Against |
1 Do you support fluoridation? Absolutely not. 2. If not, what definite steps would you take, if you are elected, to stop fluoridation in this area? (1) We have to keep pushing for a referendum, (2) continue to highlight within council & through the media the case against Fluoride, (3) use every available tool at our disposal to ban Fluoride from our water. |
| Jacoby Poulain |
Supports consultation |
At this stage I'm not sure, though would be open to understanding and appreciating the issue more thoroughly from all relevant angles. Yes I would very much support a consultative process. |
OTHER CANDIDATES 2010 ELECTION
| Candidate |
Fluoridation |
Position statement |
| Peter Nee Harland (Mayoral candidate) |
Supports consultation |
1. Do you support fluoridation? To arrive at a reasoned conclusion is difficult given that the available evidence seems to support the fluoridation of water supplies on the basis of alleged health benefits such as decreasing the rate of tooth decay while there are some studies which promote the view that to pre-mix fluoride into the public water supply is to take away a person’s right to choose. So my answer on a scientific basis is I’m not sure. On the other hand I can state my position with relative clarity by stating it ‘should’ be the right of the individual to choose. Fluoride is a naturally occurring substance present in some foods. Why don’t we just label food products with a fluoride content as such? In that way people could exercise free choice by preferring those products which contain a natural fluoride content thus taking care of the issue of individual rights while making available an indication as to the concerns of the State. Likewise perhaps tablets could be made available to boost one's private water supply level. 2. If not, what definite steps would you take, if you are elected, to stop fluoridation in this area? I would take advice. 3. If you do support fluoridation, do you believe that it is acceptable for councilors to rely on the advice by the Ministry of Health and disregard the opinion of the people who pay for and drink the water? Not without some legislative controls in place. The key for me would be the standards adopted. Should it be set at zero per cent per litre? Why? In Hastings we draw most of our water supply from the rivers and artesian wells. It seems to me a bit odd to be doing anything to the water except ensure that it is as clean as possible. 4. If you are not sure, would you support a referendum or some sort of consultative process? Yes. I would support a referendum. |
| Adele Mohi-McGoverin |
Not sure, supports consultation |
While
I personally have no strong views about having, or not having fluoride
in the water, I do appreciate that others do and so, if I am elected: if
many people in the Havelock community made it clear that fluoride in
the water was a major issue for them I would support a consultative
process. The outcome of that consultation would determine if a
referendum was appropriate. I would support that outcome. One of my
reasons for standing as Candidate is that I believe that council should
be consultative and open. The Ocean Beach debacle was the catalyst for
me. Hawkes Bay people nearly
lost an icon and initially that was financially supported by our
council. I want to keep an eye on what else is going on. |
| Des Ratima | Supports study and referendum as last resort |
I
support protecting the oral health of us all especially our children. I
understand that fluoride is a method to achieve this. If the question
is do I support putting fluoride in our water then my answer is I do not
support this approach as the best way to administer oral health
treatment, regardless of the drug including fluoride. Also I might add I
am yet to be convinced that fluoride is the best form of treatment for
oral health. It is now widely known that fluoride is in the water of
Hastings District and not in the water of Napier. I would be calling for
a study that showed the improvements and benefits of both cities
approach to oral health. I would engage in a education program to inform
all ratepayers and citizens of Hastings District the benefits of oral
health and proposals to achieve this outcome. I would further use the
results of the study and the education program to determine if there is a
need to conduct a referendum on a specific question of fluoridation.
The mechanism for the voice of the public to be heard is at these
elections in terms of who the public want elected and to represent their
concerns on all forums. I put my hand up and confirm that I will
represent the people of Hastings District community on the results of my
response in question 2. I would support a study of the 2 cities, a
series of education program and consultation forums. However, the cost
of a referendum and whether it is to be binding or not means does the
end justify the means. I would support a referendum only as a last
resort. |
| Kevin Smith |
For, against referendum |
Do you support fluoridation? Yes.
However this is something I have not paid to much attention in the past
and found your info on your website very interesting. If
you do support fluoridation, do you believe that it is acceptable for
councillors to rely on the advice by the Ministry of Health and
disregard the opinion of the people who pay for and drink the water?
I would also have to say yes this as I would expect the advice from the
Ministry of Heath would be will informed. Would also prefer the
research from a select committee rather than the opinions from the mases
who could be like me at the present and would vote on the emotional
aspects rather then the heath issues. Therefore I would not support a
referendum. Imagine This: You are about to go under a major operation
and you are given the choice to have the first cut made by a profession
surgeon or a decision based on the opinions of others who may ill
informed. |
| Anne Wilson-Hunt (Hastings Ward) |
Against |
I have already moved the recommendation that Council initiate a referendum in my last term at Council (narrowly defeated by one vote) and, if re-elected, will actively lobby around the Council table to gain enough support to pass a motion to initiate a community referendum towards the end of the three year term. While it is important to get rid of this harmful chemical, it is more important to ensure we engage an informed community along the way, and this will take time. In order for the community to be better informed, I have already asked the DHB to look at initiating research on the BENEFITS of adding fluoride to the drinking water in Hastings . The recent notable international study looked at any significant harmful effects of fluoride and that is such a politically ‘twisted’ way of looking at the issue. If they are not forthcoming, which I suspect will be the case, we will need to look at independent research options. I will work with key local leaders in this area such as Angela Hair and Ben Warren to provide historical information to the community about the health of our children’s’ teeth, and highlight that prior to the implementation of fluoride, teeth were far healthier than today. I will work with national and international anti-fluoride groups for the best outcome of Hastings |
