New Zealand First has today introduced a Member’s Bill which would restore decision-making power to local communities regarding the fluoridation of drinking water.

The ‘Fluoridation (Referendum) Legislation Bill’ seeks to repeal the Health (Fluoridation of Drinking Water) Amendment Act 2021 that granted centralised authority to the Direct General of Health and mandated the fluoridation of local water supplies.

It will also amend the Local Government Act 2002 and Health Act 1956 mandating local authorities to hold a binding referendum on water fluoridation.

“This Bill reinstates the fundamental right for communities to determine through democracy whether or not their water supply is fluoridated” says New Zealand First Leader Winston Peters.

New Zealand First has always believed such a significant decision about local fluoridation needs to be decided by the people themselves.

“Important public health measures such as this should be decided with transparency, debate, and local voices, not by overreaching Wellington-based bureaucrats”.

“The only people who would oppose this Bill are those who oppose democracy” says Mr Peters.