To fluoridate or not to fluoridate? That is the question which district health boards could soon be responsible for answering.

This week the Government announced a possible legislation change which would see DHBs, rather than local councils, deciding whether or not fluoride will be added to communities' water supplies.

The Government has proposed giving the country's 20 district health boards the power to decide whether or not fluoride will be added to communities' water supplies. Photo: File

DHBs currently provide expert advice on fluoridation to local councils' who are responsible for making the final decision.

Associate Health Minister Peter Dunne Peter says giving DHBs the final decision recognises that water fluoridation is a 'health-related issue”.

'Deciding which water supplies should be fluoridated aligns closely to DHBs' current responsibilities and expertise,” says Peter.

'It makes sense for DHBs to make fluoridation decisions for their communities based on local health priorities and by assessing health-related evidence.”

Health Minister Jonathan Coleman says about 2.3 million New Zealander's currently have access to fluoridated water.

But under the proposed legislation change, a further 1.4m Kiwis living in places where networked community water supplies are not currently fluoridated stand to benefit, he says.

'New Zealand has high rates of preventable tooth decay and increasing access to fluoridated water will improve oral health, and mean fewer costly trips to the dentist for more New Zealanders,” says Jonathan.

'Water fluoridation has been endorsed by the World Health Organization and other international health authorities as the most effective public health measure for the prevention of dental decay.”

In January Whakatane District councillors voted six to five in favour of discontinuing to add fluoride to the Whakatane and Ohope water supplies, despite strong community support for the practice in the two communities.

Following the announcement, Bay of Plenty District Health Board's CEO Helen mason expressed her disappointment with the decision, saying improving oral health is an important priority for the board which strongly supports water fluoridation.

Bay of Plenty District Health Board CEO Helen Mason says they strongly support the practice of adding fluoride to communities' water supplies. Photo: File

But then in February, the Whakatane District Council adopted a notice of motion to revoke the January decision, with councillors voting six to four in favour of once again adding fluoride to the two towns' water supplies.

The retraction of the January decision earned the ire of national anti-fluoridation lobby group Fluoride Free NZ who labelled it a 'shameful flip-flop”.

FFNZ national coordinator Mary Byrne has slammed this latest proposal saying the proposed legislation change is a misguided response to the growing public demand on councils to stop fluoridation.

'The Government is now taking the decision away from local councils and communities and putting the power into the hands of DHBs who are under the direct control of Central Government,” says Mary.

'Councillors in many areas have had the opportunity to hear both sides of the issue, including the latest science. Like most New Zealanders, once they are aware of all the facts, they become much less likely to support fluoridation.”

She also believes this legislation is an attempt to shut down future public debate and force fluoridation onto everyone, including people who are hypersensitive to fluoride.

Mary also dismisses claims that DHBs will still be open to public input, labelling it as 'pure spin, since the DHBs are contractually obligated to carry out MoH policy”.

'The legislation proposed for later this year would eventually be in place by 2018. Therefore, New Zealanders from all corners of the country need to voice their strong opposition.”

Health Minister Dr Jonathan Coleman says increasing access to fluoridated water will help to improve the oral health of New Zealanders. Photo: File