Push for fluoride in Tauranga's water escalates

The drive to put fluoride in Tauranga's water supply is about to escalate - and get personal.

Bay health board members intend to renew the push for a fluoridated water supply across the Bay by turning up at council meetings to promote the case.

At its monthly meeting yesterday, the board decided to crank up the pressure on councils that were opposed to fluoridation.

Board member Don Riesterer said he wanted the board to "get active" about promoting fluoridation. "We have to keep working on these councils."

His comments were made after the board was told that about 30 per cent of children starting school in the Bay had unacceptable levels of caries, fillings and missing teeth.

This level was worse than the national average and worse than the level in the Midland region of the North Island.
The Eastern Bay rate was marginally worse than the Western Bay.

He said board members should attend each council's annual planning meeting to promote the campaign and this theme was picked up by other board members.

As the debate expanded, Mary Hackett, the board chairwoman, suggested board member David Stewart should declare a conflict of interest because, as deputy mayor of Tauranga, his council was opposed to fluoridation.

Mr Stewart initially rejected this suggestion, saying if the Health Ministry was so keen on fluoridation, why didn't the Government legislate? But he then declared a conflict of interest.

Board member Graeme Horsley said the reason the board could not get fluoride into Tauranga's water supply was because of direction from some city councillors.

"We should focus on smaller areas so that at the end of the day Tauranga is the odd one out," he said.

And as more areas used fluoride locally, fresh statistics would become available to bolster the argument, he said.

The board was told that fluoride was added to only 10 per cent of water supplies in the Bay, yet it was known to help reduce cavities.

"The board is interested in fluoridated water supplies in our region," Mrs Hackett said. "It is the cheapest, most effective way of reducing cavities but it doesn't take away the need for education."

Ponohu McCausland raised the issue of Maori beliefs about the sanctity of water, saying she knew that some older Maori saw any additive to water as akin to poisoning the water.

This theme was also addressed by Maori Health Planning and Funding general manager Janet McLean, who said the Maori Health Runanga supported the addition of fluoride to improve oral health but acknowledged the cultural implications surrounding fluoride.

"We are a looking into undertaking a survey of Maori communities to clearly ascertain their position on this."

Bay Medical Officer of Health Dr Phil Shoemack was not at the meeting but said he supported board members' thrust.