133 Molesworth Street
PO Box 5013
Wellington 6140
New Zealand
T+64 4 496 2000
15 December 2021
Tēnā koe
Further to the Ministry of Health’s letter of 11 November 2021, I am writing to update
you on implementation planning for the Health (Fluoridation of Drinking Water)
Amendment Act 2021 (the Act) and seek information from you to assist with this.
Next steps
I expect to consider issuing directions to fluoridate from mid-2022 onwards and
implementing these directions will take a staged approach. This will align with the
significant reforms to the Three Waters infrastructure announced last month.
I encourage all local authorities with un-fluoridated community water supplies that
service over 500 people to start fluoridation-related preparatory work now (a list of these
supplies is attached as
Appendix one), especially in areas with larger populations or
that have poor oral health outcomes.
Please note local authorities do not need to wait for a potential direction from me to start
fluoridating water supplies in their area. Community water fluoridation will substantially
reduce rates of preventable tooth decay and it is widely recognised as one of the most
important and proven public health measures to improve oral health
To support early adoption, the Ministry has a limited amount of capital works funding
available for local authorities that are willing and able to begin the capital works to
fluoridate by the end of 2022. The Ministry will provide more information about funding
applications when it has received the information requested below. The Ministry will
likely prioritise financial support for communities with poor oral health, or where there
are disparities in oral health outcomes.
I recognise that there are some complex council-owned supplies across the country
where it may not be feasible to fluoridate in a short timeframe. As part of the Three
Waters reforms, new water services entities are due to be established in July 2024.
These entities could be responsible for fluoridating these supplies (subject to any
directions being issued). The Ministry and the Department of Internal Affairs will work
together on how this will be managed as part of the asset management planning
processes to establish the new entities. These processes will start next year.
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The Ministry requests some information from you now
The Ministry is now seeking information on the fluoridation ‘readiness’ of local
authorities, and any cost and planning pressures they face. This will allow the Ministry
to better understand how implementation of fluoridation will be phased1.
We ask that you provide the following information for each of your council-owned
un-fluoridated drinking water supplies that service a population of 500 people or more:
• the status of your fluoridation infrastructure
• whether fluoridation capital works is underway or planned
• the expected date for completion of capital works (if relevant)
• the estimated capital works cost to fluoridate your supplies
• the budgeted capital works costs to fluoridate supplies included in long term plans
or budgets
• the number of months required to fluoridate water supplies if a direction is issued
• other information useful for implementation planning.
Please also confirm the list of un-fluoridated supplies controlled by your local authority
(see
Appendix one)
and provide the information above for any additional supplies that
are not listed.
I request that you provide this information by completing and returning the attached
spreadsheet by 11 March 2022 to
[email address]. You can also use this
contact email if you have any questions or would like to discuss matters further.
I look forward to working with you on this initiative to help improve the oral health of the
communities you serve.
Nāku noa, nā
Dr Ashley Bloomfield
Te Tumu Whakarae mō te Hauora Director-General of Health
Cc: Jon Lamonte, Chief Executive, Watercare
Colin Crampton, Chief Executive, Wellington Water
Bill Bayfield, Chief Executive, Taumata Arowai
District Health Board Chief Executives
Public Health Unit Managers
1 This information is not being sought as part of my requirements under section 116G the Act. I will ask
local authorities to formally provide comment on these provisions in advance of issuing directions
regarding specific water supplies.
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