Government Fluoridation Promoters consistently admit they have no evidence to support their defamatory statement about fluoridation opponents.

Case 3

In 2007 Pete Hodgson, then Minister of Health, stated in correspondence with Dr Bruce Spittle that "the International Society for Fluoride Research [was] not a reputable organisation". FANNZ asked the Minister, under the Official Information Act, to provide all evidence held by him substantiating that claim. FANNZ also asked for any supporting opinion from any recognised body.

By this time ministerial portfolios had changed, and David Cunliffe was the new Minister of Health. Pete Hodgson transferred our request to David Cunliffe, who failed to respond. After intervention of the Ombudsman, David Cunliffe responded (on 21 February 2008) that no such documentation could be found.

Case 2

On 4 October 2007 Dr. Stephen Palmer, Lower Hutt Medical Officer of Health, in correspondence with Capacity, the Wellington/Hutt water agency, claimed that "I do not feel that it is appropriate to include the FANZ (sic) Website as only reputable feferences (sic) should be included."

This clearly implies that FANNZ is not a reputable organisation. As such it constitutes an actionable defamation against FANNZ committee members. FANNZ asked Dr Palmer, under the Official Information Act, to provide all evidence held by him substantiating that claim. No response was forthcoming and FANNZ advised the matter would be referred to the Ombudsman if necessary. The Hutt Valley DHB eventually responded on behalf of Dr Palmer (on 27 February 2008), stating "Dr Palmer's records have been reviewed and we can confirm we hold no information [as] requested."

Case 1

In 2003 Annette King, then Minister of Health, wrote to Ms Sylvia Cole berating her for her valiant and successful work in keeping fluoridation out of Wairoa. In that letter Annette King claimed that no reputable scientists or studies supported the antifluoridation views of Dr Paul Connett. FANNZ asked the Minister, under the Official Information Act, for all information held by her establishing that a list of internationally respected scientists, and their published works, were not reputable. Annette King ran and hid behind her Ministry, in spite of her letter being a personal attack.

On 6 May 2003 the Ministry responded as follows, signed by Dr Colin Tukuitonga, Acting Deputy Director-General of Health:

"As with any health issue there is debate on both sides. The Ministry acknowledges the various different views relating to fluoridation. The Ministry looks for articles in publications that have been peer-reviewed and that have standing in the scientific community. That is not to say that scientists who hold views opposed to fluoride do not necessarily meet that test."