Hamilton City to consider High Court decision on fluoride

Following the judgment in South Taranaki, Hamilton City Councillors will vote on whether to continue to keep fluoride out of their water supply, or reinstate it.

Costs for council to reintroduce fluoride is $100,000, which has been considered as part of Council’s annual budget round.

On 28 November 2013, the council passed a resolution to defer its decision on the fluoridation of Hamilton’s water supply until the High Court decision in Taranaki is made.

Hamilton Mayor Julie Hardaker says she will be reading the Judgment: New Health NZ Inc v Sth Taranaki District Council, carefully tonight.

“We’ll be reviewing all the information to enable us to decide what the next steps for Hamilton will be”.

The Council will consider the judgment and decide on fluoridation at its next council meeting on the 27 March.

BACKGROUND TIMELINE

11 December 2012: Council decision to review Fluoridation of the City Water Supply Policy
1 March – 2 April 2013: Public consultation and submissions on fluoridation of water supply
28-30 May & 4 June 2013: Hearings – Tribunal process
5 June 2013: Deliberations and decision to remove fluoride from Hamilton’s water supply
October 2013: Citizens initiated non-binding referendum to vote on whether or not Hamiltonians wanted fluoride put back into city’s water supply (results: 70% voted FOR adding fluoride, 32% AGAINST)
28 November 2013: Council decide to defer decision on fluoridation until South Taranaki judgement (see below)
7 March 2014: South Taranaki judgement released
27 March 2014: Hamilton City Council next meet to decide on fluoridation

Further information can be found at: www.hamilton.govt.nz/fluoride

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Hamilton defers decision on fluoridation of city's water supply
28 November 2013
Hamilton City Council today decided 7 votes to 5 to defer a decision on whether or not to re-fluoridate the City’s water supply.
This follows a decision to remove it following a Tribunal in June and a subsequent referendum in October that saw 70% of voters asking for fluoride to be put back.

The decision to defer is to enable the Council give consideration to the High Court decision in Taranaki.
At this stage it is not clear when the decision will be reconsidered.

Those who supported this motion:
Cr Yeung
Cr Forsyth
Cr Pascoe
Cr O'Leary
Cr Macpherson
Cr Green
Cr Mallett.
Those who did not support this motion:
Mayor Hardaker
Cr Chesterman
Cr King
Cr Tooman
Cr Wilson
Cr Gallagher - declared an interest and did not take part in voting on this item.

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