Whangārei District Council Back Tracks On Staunch Fluoridation Resistance

Monday, 17 March 2025, 8:39 pm
Article: Susan Botting - Local Democracy Reporter

17 March 2025

Fluoride will start being added to Whangārei drinking water on Wednesday morning, subject to the outcome of a High Court hearing in Wellington tomorrow.

Whangārei District Council (WDC) this afternoon voted almost unanimously to back down at the eleventh hour on its months-long and highly-vocal refusal to fluoridate its drinking water by March 28 as ordered by the Director-General of Health, risking potential legal charges, up to $200,000 in fines $10,000 a day for failing to comply and more.

WDC Cr Patrick Holmes said that refusal equated to a 3.8% general rates rise to cover the close to $5 million in extra unbudgeted fluoridation refusal costs.
WDC voted 13:1 to wipe its resistance to the fluoride order, ahead of tomorrow’s High Court case.

Nine working days are needed to commission the Whangārei fluoridation to meet the deadline. At present, it must begin by 9am on Wednesday.

Wednesday morning’s fluoridation beginnings are however subject to the outcome of a High Court hearing in Wellington tomorrow where WDC is seeking "urgent interim relief" so the council can instead delay the hands-on preparations for full fluoridation by the late March deadline.

This is in spite of today’s rescinding of its November 28 decision not to fluoridate. The council wants the chemical's introduction halted until the High Court can rule on which evidence about adding fluoride to drinking water is used to justify the government directive to do so.

A High Court decision allowing a pause on the implementation process will potentially mean fluoridation introduction either doesn’t start, or stops mid-stream.

The council has already purchased the hydrofluorosilicic acid or fluoride for Whangārei drinking water fluoridation.

Whangārei Mayor Vince Cocurullo said after the meeting his vote in favour of rescinding the council’s November 28 decision not to fluoridate did not mean he had egg on his face.
Cocurullo said the backtrack had been important, ahead of the High Court hearing.

It was important the council acted lawfully.

WDC was still however following up on its concerns.

Cr Gavin Benney who has led the anti-fluoridation campaign at his council said he was still not in favour of adding fluoride to Whangārei water.

But he had changed tack on it happening so that the council and its politicians were not at legal risk.

Around $100,000 has been spent to date on the council’s legal action against fluoridation.

Whangārei district’s currently has four water treatment plants at Whau Valley Maunu, Ruakākā and Waipu.

Each water treatment plant had different fluoride delivery arrangements.

If fluoridation goes ahead, fluoride will slowly start spreading through the council’s drinking water pipes and networks from the four treatment plants, at varying stages.

People would start getting fluoridated drinking water from their taps at different times.

Commissioning will see staff look to confirm a consistent fluoride dose of between 0.7mg/l and 1mg/l, with a target setting of 0.85mg/l.

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