Mike's Minute: Councils should stop playing games with fluoride

Fluoride is a funny thing.

I like it. Not too much, but just enough to help out in the water.

Not everyone shares the view, but science is on the right side.

Eliora: Bloomfield Is Behind It Again

It’s hard to believe the former Director General of Health again is promoting a harmful substance and threatening those who do not comply.

The Tauranga public turned out in large numbers fronting up to the newly democratically elected councillors to voice their disapproval of Dr Ashley Bloomfield’s directive to put fluoride in the residents’ unfluoridated drinking water. The room was overcrowded and the atmosphere electric. Many had to move into the foyer and the ‘health and safety’ irony of the situation wasn’t lost on the crowd. A lot of booing took place.

Chris Lynch: Ōamaru faces forced fluoridation despite community pushback

New Zealand’s Director-General of Health has mandated the fluoridation of Ōamaru’s drinking water, despite widespread opposition from locals.

In April 2024, the Waitaki District Council instructed its Chief Executive to request an extension of time from the Department of Health regarding the deadline for adding fluoride to the Ōamaru water supply.

John MacDonald: Fluoridation more achievable than a new dental service

Are you the sort of person who goes to the dentist like clockwork, even if you think there’s nothing wrong?

Or, are you like most people, and only go when you’re in agony or when you break a tooth trying to eat a Mintie or something like that?

I’m not even one of those types. So maybe there are three types.