NZ - Fluoride call sparks heated debate in South Canterbury

Dentist Mark Goodhew wants pressure put on the Timaru District Council to fluoridate the district's water supply.

South Canterbury mayors are calling for central government to take responsibility for the controversial issue of water fluoridation.

The Mackenzie and Waimate district mayors have presented a united front to back calls by Timaru District Mayor Damon Odey for the issue to be decided by central government rather than local councils.

The polarising issue was thrust back into the spotlight after the South Canterbury District Health Board's (SCDHB) community and public health committee voted to recommend a position statement supporting fluoridation to the full board.

That decision prompted Timaru dentist Mark Goodhew to urge the Timaru District Council to re-examine the proposal, saying fluoride was the most cost-effective way to improve the district's poor oral health.

Waimate District Mayor Craig Rowley said his council had no position on fluoride as it had not been formally discussed at a council level.

 

There were no plans to look into the issue at a council level, but he agreed with Odey that it should be a central government decision.

Mackenzie District Mayor Claire Barlow shared that view. "It's not a local government issue," he said.

The possibility of fluoridating water supplies had not been raised with her council, she said.

 

Outside the councils, sometimes heated debate has been reignited by the issue's resurfacing. Dozens of people have contacted Stuff to voice their opinions on the issue, with the majority opposed to reintroducing fluoride to community water supplies.

For Deborah McDougall, fluoridation would be "a giant step backwards" for Timaru. "People have to be responsible for what their young children put in their mouths. "Why should we have fluoride added for people making wrong choices."

 

Liz Townshend described fluoride as "a poison". "We do not need this poison in our bodies and we should have the right to dispute the introduction of it."

 

Paula Gregory believed that it would be wiser to educate parents about dental hygiene and the amount of sugar in fizzy and fruit drinks.