Gore, Southland councils wait on compulsory fluoridation order

The Southland and Gore district councils have been left off a list of regions ordered to get their water supplies fluoridated – but their time may come soon.

Director-General of Health Dr Ashley Bloomfield this week ordered 14 local authorities to add fluoride to some or all of their water supplies.

Bloomfield said he would likely consider issuing further plans directing councils to fluoridate water later this year.

Though Gore and Southland were not on the initial list, their respective mayors said the ministry had indicated their time would come.

Gore District mayor Tracy Hicks said it was an emotional subject.

‘‘I am sure there will be some quite strong views, and we will hear about that, but a direction from the ministry is something that’s pretty hard to ignore.’’

The oral health statistics in some parts of the Gore district weren’t flash, particularly in children in low decile areas, Hicks said.

‘‘Providing the science stacks up, it [fluoridation] might help overcome some of those challenges.’’

Southland District mayor Gary Tong said its council had also been advised it would be told to fluoridate the water at some stage.

‘‘If it’s going to be mandated by the Government it’s got to come with funding,’’ Tong said.

‘‘I can see the benefits of fluoridation, I have talked to dentists and doctors who see the benefits in fluoridation. But people have to actually drink the water to make it work.’’

Dental Association Southland branch president Kate Tiriaere said poor oral health affected ‘‘so many’’, especially in Southland’s more vulnerable communities.

Introducing fluoride into the water was a safe and effective way to reduce tooth decay in these communities, she said.

‘‘There are areas in Southland where the water isn’t fluoridated and we tend to see a higher rate of decay, especially from children in these areas.’’

Bloomfield’s order this week for the 14 councils to fluoridate their water supplies was the first time this power has been used to establish a national approach to water fluoridation.

Bloomfield said adding fluoride to the additional water supplies would increase the number of New Zealanders receiving fluoridated water by 9% – from 51% to about 60%.

Experts widely recognised that community water fluoridation substantially reduced tooth decay, he said in a letter to the Gore District Council.

The 14 territorial authorities this week ordered to fluoridate their water will have between six months and over three years, depending on the circumstances, to fluoridate parts of their water supply not already done. They are Auckland, Hastings, Horowhenua, Kawerau, Nelson, New Plymouth, Rotorua Lakes, Tararua, Tauranga, Waipa, Waitaki, Western Bay of Plenty, Far North and Whangā rei.

The Invercargill water supply is already fluoridated.

‘‘I am sure there will be some quite strong views, and we will hear about that, but a direction from the ministry is something that’s pretty hard to ignore.’’ Tracy Hicks Gore District mayor