Whangārei District Council has so far resisted orders from the Ministry of Health to fluoridate its water supply. Photo: engin akyurt
A Whangārei District Council meeting to discuss a legal challenge against fluoridation will now take place next week in public.
A Whangārei District Council meeting to discuss a legal challenge against fluoridation will now take place next week in public.
A confidential meeting was scheduled to be held this morning but was canned when a majority of councillors voted against holding it behind closed doors.
A council spokesperson said the discussion had been rescheduled to an extraordinary meeting at 2pm on Monday at Te Iwitahi, the council offices on Rust Ave.
The meeting would be open to the public, she said.
The delay until Monday was to allow for the required three days' public notification.
The meeting was called to discuss legal advice relating to the council's High Court challenge seeking assurances about the safety of fluoride and questioning the legality of the government's order to add it to the city's water supply.
Abrupt meeting
Mayor Vince Cocurullo said this morning councillors were to have discussed legally privileged information relating to their legal challenge against fluoridating the city's water supply, which is why the meeting had to be confidential.
However, a majority of councillors voted against holding the meeting behind closed doors.
The meeting was over in about 10 minutes.
Despite the somewhat frustrating delay, councillor Scott McKenzie felt it was the right move.
"It's less frustrating that it's played out this way than it would have been to continue to have the discussion in confidential," he said.
"I think it's more important that there's transparency and accountability of our elected members to our public."
Cocurullo said he accepted the council's decision was part of the process.
"There was a motion to go into confidential and the majority of the councillors voted not to go into the confidential so we couldn't proceed," he said.
"Look, it is what it is. We've followed the processes, and I've made it very clear we follow the processes without actually bending the rules anywhere."
Cocurullo said the council's next step would be discussed this afternoon.
If the meeting had to be held at least partly in public, it could not proceed until next week because of the required three-day notice period.
Cocurullo said the council has asked the High Court to rule on the safety of fluoride, and the legality of the Director-General of Health's order to fluoridate the city's water supply.
The council had also asked for an injunction to delay fluoridation until after the court had reached a decision, which was not expected until later this year.
The government's deadline to start fluoridation is 28 March. The equipment is understood to be in place already at the city's water treatment plant.
The council could be liable for a fine of $200,000 plus $10,000 per day, if it fails to meet that deadline.
Around the country 14 councils have been ordered to fluoridate their water supplies. Some have been granted extensions, but Whangārei is the only one holding out.
Residents react
Whangārei residents spoken to on the street by RNZ were largely supportive of the council's fluoride stance, though some were wary of closed-door meetings and the potential cost.
Andrew, a retiree, said Mayor Cocurullo had made the right call.
"I'm firmly of the belief the mayor has been elected by the people, and he has a right to make a decision for the people. That's why he's been voted in."
Catherine, who works for a government agency, said she was pleased the council was objecting to the Health Ministry's directive.
"From what I believe you'd have to drink a lot of water for it to have any positive effect on tooth decay. And I don't think people drink all that much water out of the tap these days anyway."
Graham, a retiree, also backed the mayor's stand.
"Vince Cocurullo said it's not 100 percent sure that it's safe. But the meeting shouldn't have been held behind closed doors. At least it's going to be a public meeting now."
Murray, a project manager, said he was "sitting on the fence" on fluoride.
"I don't really know enough about it. But I can see it's raised a few hackles in the district. It's quite a divided public, but I don't know if the people commenting on this stuff have the right credentials."
Ultimately, Murray said he trusted the people who ran the country, and the district, to do the research and make the right decision.
He was, however, concerned about the potential cost of the council's stand.
"Now the government has turned around and said, 'We'll fine you for not continuing with fluoridation'. That's going to cost the ratepayers money, and it's at the cost of other projects we could otherwise spend the money on.
"Maybe the public needs to be asked to make the decision, by a referendum for example."
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