Science Media Centre

As parliament considers a bill to put decision-making about community water fluoridation in the hands of district health boards, fluoridation is likely to remain a polarising issue for some communities. The SMC asked New Zealand and international experts to discuss what the science says about the benefits of fluoridation and where the objections stem from. […]

The Government has announced planned legislation that will move responsibility for water fluoridation from local councils to District Health Boards. The decision comes after numerous local councils have grappled with decisions over water fluoridation, balancing expert advice and lobbying from anti-fluoridation campaigners. Previous SMC coverage of fluoride and council decisions can be found here. “Moving […]

The Whakatane District Council’s Policy Committee has voted narrowly in favour removing fluoride from the District’s public water supplies. Following last week’s decision, representatives of local and central government have weighed in on the issue of who should have the final say over community water fluoridation. The Royal Society of New Zealand and the Office […]

New Zealanders aren’t getting enough information about the health effects of community water fluoridation to know whether it is a good or a bad thing, suggests a new study. The research, based on a survey of almost 3,500 people, is published today in the Australian and New Zealand Journal of Public Health. The authors found […]

The Science Media Centre put questions on key science-related issues to the political parties ahead of the General Election scheduled to be held on September 20.  This page has now been updated to include responses from the Maori Party. Please click on the links below to find the answers from responding political parties (or download […]

A comprehensive report on the safety and efficacy of community water fluoridation aims to put to rest concerns and misinformation over the public health intervention. The addition of fluoride to community drinking water to improve dental health has been taking place in New Zealand since 1954 and currently more than half the population receives fluoridated […]

The High Court has ruled on a high profile court case questioning the legal right of local councils to fluoridate water. A decision from Justice Rodney Harrison, released today, rejected all grounds of a legal challenge from an anti-fluoridation campaign group which disputed South Taranaki District council’s decision to add fluoride to water in Waverley […]

Hamilton residents participating in a local body referendum have voted overwhelmingly to resume fluoridating the city’s water supply. The referendum result saw 70 per cent of those who voted, 23,000 people, vote to have their water fluoridated. This follows a move earlier in the year by the Hamilton City Council to stop fluoridation of the […]

The Prime Minister’s Chief Science Advisor, Professor Sir Peter Gluckman, has added his voice to the discussion on the topical issue of water fluoridation and science. He has written a blog post exploring the science of fluoridation and how it can be used – and misused – in the current debate. An excerpt (read in […]

The Hamilton City Council’s decision to remove fluoride from the water supply has sparked a flurry of nationwide reporting and condemnation from heath experts. You can read more about the council’s decision, background information on fluoridation and comments from experts on the issue, here. The extensive nationwide media coverage includes: Waikato Times: ‘Absolutely gutless’: Collins […]