NZ - Putting fluoride in Hutt water may spark 'riots'

Adding fluoride would spark 'riots' in the street
ANDREA O'NEIL
Petone residents would "riot on the street" if fluoride were added to tap water - which might happen if the Ministry of Health takes over fluoridation decision-making from councils.

Petone and neighbouring suburb Korokoro get their tap water from the same aquifer that feeds the artesian water fountains in Buick St.

There was an outcry in the 1990s when Hutt City Council suggested adding fluoride to the supply and the reaction would be the same today, community board chairman Mike Fisher said.

"People would be rioting in the streets. They would be absolutely furious," he said. "We're very proud of our water the way it is."

Last week, the country's councils voted strongly in favour of handing fluoridation decisions to the director-general of health.............