Yesterday was the first day that Kawerau’s water supply was fluoridated.

Despite pressure from some residents who do not want the chemical added to the town water supply, Kawerau District Council has followed the directive from the Director General of Health, first received in July 2022, that it must add fluoride to its drinking water by July 2024.

After receiving a petition signed by 723 people in December last year, the council sought leave to delay the fluoridation and received an extension until September 30.

The council said if it did not do so, the district would receive a $200,000 initial fine and a subsequent $10,000 fine for every day it was not compliant.    

The council does provide chlorine and fluoride-free water at taps at the River Road pump house and the Kawerau New World car park. The tap at New World has filters to remove both chemicals while the pump house tap takes water directly from the spring.

The Beacon visited the taps yesterday to see whether there was an increase in the number of people using them.

There was only one person at the River Road pump house, who was unaware of the addition of fluoride and said he used the water from there because he likes the taste.

There was one person filling bottles at the New World tap, who was aware of the fluoridation but said she normally took her drinking water from there.

While many people believe fluoride can have negative health effects, New Zealand’s Ministry of Health says more than 60 years of international and New Zealand research shows water fluoridation is both a safe and effective way to reduce tooth decay.