How to direct water fluoridation in Whanganui

Tanya made this Official Information request to Ministry of Health

The request was successful.

From: Tanya

Dear Ministry of Health,

I have been reading the information on your website about water fluoridation (https://www.health.govt.nz/our-work/prev...) and note the Director-General's power to direct a local authority to put fluoride in the drinking water.

I am a firm believer in water fluoridation and want my local council to be providing the best quality drinking water not only for myself and my child but for all tamariki in Whanganui. This is something that could make a massive difference to the health and wellbeing of our tamariki.

1. How does this direction take place?
2. What is needed to start the process?
3. Please provide a copy of the process
4. What can I do as an individual?
5. What are the responsibilities of my local Council to be putting fluoride in the drinking water?

Yours faithfully,

Tanya

Link to this

From: OIA Requests


Attachment image.png
89K Download


Kia ora Tanya,  

  

Thank you for your request for official information. The Ministry's
reference number for your request is: H2022013609.  

  

As required under the Official Information Act 1982, the Ministry will
endeavour to respond to your request no later than 20 working days after
the day your request was received. If you'd like to calculate the
timeframe, you can use the Ombudsman's online calculator
here: [1]http://www.ombudsman.parliament.nz/  

  

If you have any queries related to this request, please do not hesitate to
get in touch. 

 

Ngā mihi 

  

OIA Services Team 

M[2]inistry of Health information releases 
U[3]nite against COVID-19 

 

show quoted sections

Link to this

From: Tanya

Dear OIA Requests,

Your reference: H2022013609

Kia ora koutou

The OIA I submitted about directing the council to put fluoride in the water is in relation to the Whanganui District Council. Please see the below response from them in relation to my request about water fluoridation in Whanganui and their comment, "There are no plans to fluoridate only if instructed by the Ministry of Health".

Could I please add a further two questions to my request?

6. Please provide a copy of any and all communications from MoH to the Whanganui Council relating to adding fluoride to the water (since 2018).
7. Can the Director-General please direct Whanganui District Council to add fluoride to the drinking water?
_________________________________________________
From: WDC Information Request
Whanganui District Council

September 30, 2022
Dear Tanya,

I refer to your official information request dated 3 September 2022 asking
for information relating to water fluoridation.

The information you have requested is as follows.
1. Does the Council currently fluoridate any of the water in the Whanganui
area?
No
2. How much of the water is fluoridated versus not fluoridated?
Whanganui’s water supply is not fluoridated
3. Does the Council have any plans to fluoridate the water or to improve
fluoridation? What are these?
There are no plans to fluoridate only if instructed by the Ministry of Health.

You have the right to seek an investigation and review by the Ombudsman of
this decision. Information about how to make a complaint is available at
[1]www.ombudsman.parliament.nz or freephone 0800 802 602.

If you wish to discuss this decision with us, please feel free to contact
me on 06 349 0001 or by return email.

Yours sincerely
Hayley Fitzgerald

On behalf of
Rob Goldsbury
General Counsel
________________________________________________________

Yours sincerely,
Tanya

Link to this

From: OIA Requests


Attachment Outlook j5lpdtvp.png
80K Download


Kia ora Tanya
Thank you for your email. Please note, under section 15 of the Official
Information Act 1982, any clarification or amendments made to a request
within seven days after the date it is received, that request may be
treated as a new request and the time limit for the response restarts. 

 

You can now expect a response by, or on 2 November 2022. 

Ngā mihi 

  

OIA Services Team

Manatū Hauora | Ministry of Health

M[1]inistry of Health information releases 
U[2]nite against COVID-19 

--------------------------------------------------------------------------

From: Tanya <[FOI #20691 email]>
Sent: Tuesday, 4 October 2022 08:50
To: OIA Requests <[email address]>
Subject: Re: Acknowledgement of your request for official information
(ref: H2022013609) CRM:0154702
 
Dear OIA Requests,

Your reference:  H2022013609

Kia ora koutou

The OIA I submitted about directing the council to put fluoride in the
water is in relation to the Whanganui District Council. Please see the
below response from them in relation to my request about water
fluoridation in Whanganui and their comment, "There are no plans to
fluoridate only if instructed by the Ministry of Health".

Could I please add a further two questions to my request?

6. Please provide a copy of any and all communications from MoH to the
Whanganui Council relating to adding fluoride to the water (since 2018).
7. Can the Director-General please direct Whanganui District Council to
add fluoride to the drinking water?
_________________________________________________
From: WDC Information Request
Whanganui District Council

September 30, 2022
Dear Tanya,

I refer to your official information request dated 3 September 2022 asking
for information relating to water fluoridation.

The information you have requested is as follows.
1. Does the Council currently fluoridate any of the water in the Whanganui
area?
No
2. How much of the water is fluoridated versus not fluoridated?
Whanganui’s water supply is not fluoridated
3. Does the Council have any plans to fluoridate the water or to improve
fluoridation? What are these?
There are no plans to fluoridate only if instructed by the Ministry of
Health.

You have the right to seek an investigation and review by the Ombudsman of
this decision. Information about how to make a complaint is available at
[http://scanmail.trustwave.com/?c=15517&a...
or freephone 0800 802 602.

If you wish to discuss this decision with us, please feel free to contact
me on 06 349 0001 or by return email.

Yours sincerely
Hayley Fitzgerald

On behalf of
Rob Goldsbury
General Counsel

show quoted sections

Link to this

From: OIA Requests


Attachment Outlook wdvr0e4u.png
80K Download

Attachment H2022013609 Response Binder.pdf
3.1M Download View as HTML


Kia ora Tanya
Please see attached a response to your request for official information.

Ngā mihi 

  

OIA Services Team

Manatū Hauora | Ministry of Health

M[1]inistry of Health information releases 
U[2]nite against COVID-19 

show quoted sections

References

Visible links
1. https://www.health.govt.nz/about-ministr...
2. https://covid19.govt.nz/

Link to this

Things to do with this request

Anyone:
Ministry of Health only: