The decision on whether fluoridation of Whakatāne District water supplies will continue, be expanded or cease will be made in January.

The Whakatāne District Council’s Policy Committee agreed at its meeting yesterday (26 November) that it had sufficient information to make a decision, informed by the results of the non-binding referendum carried out alongside the 2013 elections. However, the Committee will invite one representative from each side of the fluoridation debate to put forward their case in the public forum section of its next meeting on 28 January 2016.

The 2013 referendum showed that, overall, 60.5% of those who voted were in favour of fluoridation, with 39.5% against. However, there were significant differences in voting patterns between communities. Communities voting for fluoridation were: Ōhope (70.5%), Whakatāne (65.8%), Rangitāiki (55.8%) and Murupara-Galatea (51%); while communities voting against were Murupara - Te Urewera (84.6%), Murupara – Murupara (77.4%) and Tāneatua (53.1%).

Community views on fluoridation have been sought in the past through the use of referenda in 1995 and 2001, with both showing there was a slight majority in favour (54% in 1995 and 63% in 2001). As a result of those findings, the Council resolved to continue adding fluoride to the Whakatāne and Ōhope public water supply.