Anti-fluoride activists and health officials clashed at the Kapiti Coast District Council chambers on Wednesday, with the mayor describing the debate as a waste of time and calling on the Government to settle the issue once and for all.
Photo: RNZ
The North Island council agreed to hear from fluoride opponents after receiving several submissions against fluoridation during consultation over its annual plan.
At the hearing, anti-fluoride campaigners cited studies they say show that adding fluoride to drinking water is dangerous and only a small affect on preventing tooth decay.
But the Capital and Coast District Health Board said those studies are either flawed, or being misrepresented by the campaigners.
The board said the majority of scientists and medical experts agree that fluoridation poses very little risk. It said residents in fluoridated areas have 40 percent less tooth decay than those in non-fluoridated areas.
Kapiti mayor Ross Church said it is wasteful and divisive for councils to individually weigh up the merits of fluoridation.
"We're all beating ourselves up over this, stressing about it and having hours and hours or days of submissions. Then it gets challenged and it goes to court. The problem is it's costing ratepayers literally hundreds of thousands of dollars - and this is going on all over New Zealand."
Mr Church said his council has written to Local Government New Zealand asking the Government to make a final decision for the whole country on whether fluoride should be added to water.
Hamilton case delayed
An application to stop Hamilton City Council reinstating fluoride in its water supply before a Judicial Review can be heard has been delayed.
Safe Water Alternative New Zealand is taking the action against the council in the High Court. The group is seeking interim relief because a full judicial hearing is not expected until later in the year
A hearing on an interim order is expected to be heard in June. The council has decided to hold off putting fluoride back in the water until at least then.