Whakatane and Ohope to vote on fluoridation

By ROSALEEN MACBRAYNE

Whakatane and Ohope residents will have an extra vote to cast at the local body elections - on whether fluoridation of their water supplies should continue.

Although the poll will not be binding on the newly elected Whakatane District Council, it will indicate whether public opinion has changed.

The result of the last fluoride referendum six years ago was close, with 3872 voting for retention and 3191 against. It costs about $15,000 a year to treat the water supplies in the district's urban Whakatane and Ohope wards.

The referendum follows an an annual plan submission seeking the removal of fluoride.

Despite endless arguments about the value or otherwise of fluoridating civic water supplies as a public dental health measure, it has never been made compulsory by Government.

Feature: Local body elections 2001

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