Kawerau District Council is legally required to deliver on the direction received from the Ministry of Health, under the Health (Fluoridation of Drinking Water) Amendment Act 2021. A recent judicial review of the Ministry of Health fluoridation directions by the High Court has required the Director-General of Health to undertake an assessment of each direction issued against the New Zealand Bill of Rights Act. The judge also decided that the directions remain in place during this assessment. Kawerau District Council must continue fluoridation implementation unless it receives instruction from the Ministry of Health. 

New Zealand's most recent national oral health survey shows, on average, 40% less tooth decay was experienced among children living in communities with fluoridated water, compared with children living in communities without fluoridated water. 

For more information, please visit the Ministry of Health website

As per the Ministry of Health guidelines the fluoridation rates for the Kawerau drinking water is 0.7-1 mg/L which is safe and effective, significantly reducing the prevalence and severity of dental decay in the populations serviced by this water supply.

Please note: Kawerau's water sources (like most surface waters) already contain about 0.3ppm of fluoride so really, we are just adding fluoride, up to the standards that the Ministry of Health has set which is 0.7 – 1.0 ppm. 

The fluoride is on telemetry (which is, the process of recording and transmitting the readings of an instrument) and is monitored continuously at the Water Treatment Plant. Council will also sample 3 different sample sites across the town daily, which Council will then report to Taumata Arowai monthly.

Council will also, get audited annually by an independent auditor (Wai Comply) for our water quality to ensure we are compliant with the Drinking Water Quality Assurance Rules and Water Services (DWSNZ) Regulations 2022.

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The Sapere Report reviewed both New Zealand and international evidence. It estimated the benefit of water fluoridation as follows: 

• 40% lower lifetime incidence of tooth decay among children and adolescents 

• 48% reduction in hospital admissions for the treatment of tooth decay among children aged 0-4 years 

• 21% reduction in tooth decay among adults aged 18–44 years 

• 30% reduction in tooth decay among adults aged 45 years and over.  

For more information, please visit the Ministry of Health website

No, Kawerau District Council is required to add fluoride to all drinking water. There are water filters on the market that remove fluoride. However, it would be up to residents to choose to research and to pay for a filter should people choose to install one.   

After September 30 if Council does not commision the fluoridation plant and start to provide fluoridated drinking water, the Kawerau District will receive a fine of $200,000 and a subsequent $10,000 fine every day, we are not compliant. This fine would need to be paid for by ratepayer funding (which is not budgeted for, nor available).  

The pumphouse tap remains chlorine-free and will also be fluoride-free (this water has only been treated with ultra-violet (UV). The New World tap filters will take out chlorine and fluoride. Council is planning to maintain these taps as chlorine-free and fluoride-free

Yes, fluoride has no taste or smell so, residents should not notice any difference to their drinking water 

The Ministry of Health issued the directive to Kawerau District Council and a number of other councils in Aotearoa. For more details, Please, refer to the Ministry of Health website

Ministry of Health has fully subsidised the installation of the fluoride infrastructure which has come to a total of $457,980. Kawerau District Council is liable for the ongoing operational costs to fluoridate the water which is estimated at approximately $55,000 each year.  

The Ministry of Health provides safe drinking guidelines for the addition of fluoridation and Council will be commissioning the plant to stay at these levels. Fluoride is naturally occurring and can be found all around us in the air, soil, sea, and plants/food 

New Zealand spring water usually has about 0.1mg per litre. Some bottled water that you buy can be tap water so it may also contain fluoride. If people are concerned about what is in the bottled water, please check the labels prior to purchase and consumption. 

There is no negative impacts according to the Ministry of Health and Taumata Arowai regulations for drinking water of adding chlorine and fluoride into the drinking water. While chlorine ensures water safety by disinfection, fluoride is added to strengthen tooth enamel and prevent cavities. Their interaction is not a direct chemical reaction, but rather distinct roles in water treatment.