Tasman water to stay fluoride-free for now
The Tasman District Council is not one of 14 local authorities that have so far been directed to fluoridate their water supplies – an order that includes Nelson City Council.
In one of his last acts as director-general of health, Dr Ashley Bloomfield has told the 14 councils to add fluoride to some or all of their water supplies. Along with Nelson, the directive applies to Auckland, Hastings, Horowhenua, Kawerau,
New Plymouth, Rotorua Lakes, Tararua, Tauranga City, Waipā, Waitaki, Western Bay of Plenty, Far North and Whangārei councils. They will have between six months and more than three years, depending on the circumstances, to fluoridate parts of their water supply not already fluoridated.
Bloomfield said the Ministry of Health asked all councils how long and expensive the process would be to fluoridate water.
‘‘We then triaged those who felt they were able to do it sooner and for whom the cost could be accommodated within an envelope of around $11 million.’’
Tasman District Council communications and change manager Chris Choat said Tasman had 17 water supply schemes, most which were relatively small.
‘‘Significant investment’’ would be required to enable fluoridation of all those water supplies, Choat said.
At present, the council does not add fluoride to any of its water supplies, nor does it have the capability to do so. In February, the council estimated it would cost just over $1.3m to fluoridate its five largest supplies.
While Tasman has not been included in the first directive from the director-general of health, its time could come.
Bloomfield said he would likely consider issuing further plans directing councils to fluoridate water later this year.
Meanwhile, the Nelson City Council said it would adhere to the directive and was awaiting details. Prior to 2021, the decision whether to fluoridate water was in the hands of individual councils but the Health (Fluoridation of Drinking Water) Amendment Act 2021 shifted the decision to the director-general of health.