Ryall warns of 'shock and horror stories'

The health minister is warning that an anti-fluoridation group, which has set its sights on ridding Auckland of fluoride in its water, is running an "organised campaign of misinformation".

Last month the compound was removed from Hamilton's water supply after a council tribunal vote, and Fluoride Action Network New Zealand recently held a meeting in Freemans Bay to gather support for its campaign to get rid of fluoride from Auckland's water.

Its national co-ordinator Mary Byrne said it was the first in a series of meetings around the region designed to change people's thinking.

On TVNZ's Q+A programme yesterday, Health Minister Tony Ryall said there was no doubt science pointed to the fact there were benefits for families from fluoridation, and that the levels of fluoridation in water were safe for New Zealanders.

But he said authorities needed to do better in communicating those benefits.

"I've asked the authorities to look at how they can better convey both the health benefits and the social benefits of fluoridation in such a way that people can appreciate those benefits and be aware of them," he said.

In the run-up to local body elections some regions will hold a referendum on the issue, Mr Ryall said.

"I think communities need to be aware there will be highly organised campaigns of misinformation. "There will be people who come from out of town and tell all sorts of shock-horror stories around fluoridation."

Communities should look to their local district health boards, dentists and the evidence which showed fluoridation in New Zealand was safe and benefited families, Mr Ryall said.

APNZ