Proactive release of Ministerial decision-making documents
These documents outline Cabinet decisions on the Health (Fluoridation of Drinking Water) Amendment Act 2021 (the Act). This Act shifted the decision-making authority on community water fluoridation from local authorities to the Director-General of Health on the basis that it is a health-centred decision.
The Act gives the Director-General the power to direct local authorities to add fluoride to drinking water supplies.
The Bill was first introduced in 2016, and at that time proposed that decision-making shift from local authorities to District Health Boards. The Bill was amended in 2021 so that it instead shifted the decision making from local authorities to the Director-General of Health.
- Cabinet paper: Decision-making on the fluoridation of drinking-water supplies (Please note: a typographical error has been identified in appendix 1 of the Cabinet paper (paragraph 2, page 11). The age range stated should read children aged between 1 and 14 years, not 1 and 4 years.), Cabinet minute: Decision-making on the fluoridation of drinking-water supplies.
- Departmental Disclosure Statement: Health (Fluoridation of Drinking Water) Amendment Bill
- Health Committee report into decision making under the Health (Fluoridation of Drinking Water) Amendment Bill (external link)
- 2021 Cabinet paper and minute: Health (Fluoridation of Drinking Water) Amendment Bill: Proposed Amendment. Some information is redacted from the Cabinet minute as it is out of scope of this proactive release.
You can find further information about community water fluoridation and directions made by the Director-General of Health on this page: Community water fluoridation in New Zealand