FLUORIDATION - UPDATE

Two High Court cases have served to clarify the rights and responsibilities of the Crown and local councils on water fluoridation. The first was in September last year when the Court found the Director General of Health had breached the Bill of Rights Act by failing to consider whether the directions given to local authorities to fluoridate their water supply breached the rights of an individual to refuse medical treatment.

The second case in May dismissed a claim that councils who followed the directive to fluoridate were in breach of the Bill of Rights. The Court said councils had to follow the directive.

In other words, given the directive, the responsibility to abide by the Bill of Rights rests with the Ministry of Health, not a local council.

Tauranga votes to fluoridate water supply: Tauranga will fluoridate its water despite mayor voting no

The High Court cases:

10 November 2023 - HERE >>>

 16 May 2024 - HERE >>>