Two Eastern Bay mayors are split on the merits of water fluoridation but agree the decision is best made by the Government.

Whakatane Mayor Judy Turner and Kawerau Mayor Malcolm Campbell have welcomed a proposed law change that will give the director-general of health control of water fluoridation.

The fluoridation issue has split councils in the past and neither mayor believes local bodies are the best institutions to be making public health decisions.

'It is a health outcome that drives the need to fluoridate water and we are not health professionals,” says Turner.

'Therefore, that decision being made further up the health food chain, I believe, is sensible.”

The Government has picked up the Health (Fluoridation of Drinking Water) Amendment Bill, introduced by the previous National government in 2016.

The bill originally proposed to shift decision-making from councils to district health boards.

However, the Government has introduced a supplementary order paper to change the bill and give responsibility to the Director-General of Health Dr Ashley Bloomfield.

Whakatane District Council held a non-binding referendum on fluoridation in 2013.

Most of the community voted to fluoridate the Whakatane-Ohope community supply, which services just over 21,000 people.

However, at the council, most elected members voted against fluoridation. This decision was then challenged by Turner, then deputy mayor, through a notice of motion. The decision to fluoridate then won by one vote.

'It's a very polarising subject. We had some people who were very pro or very anti and not many in between,” she says.

'My background is primary teaching, and I am very aware of the number of children who have to undergo dental surgery under general anaesthetic because of the poor condition of their teeth. I know it's not all about the state of the water, but it is a tool we could have in our kit.

'I did feel throughout that time that we were not health professionals, yet we were making a decision that was health-outcome focused. It was not well placed with us.”

The Whakatane-Ohope supply is the only Whakatane council supply that is fluoridated and concerns have been raised by those in smaller communities such as Murupara and Taneatua that the Government's move may see fluoridation forced upon them.

Turner knows from experience that those on the Murupara water supply are against any treatment of their water.

The council has had a debate with the community on chlorination previously and decided against it.

'I did say to them afterwards that if the water came to Government management, they may find themselves having that debate with the Ministry of Health instead,” says Turner..

Turner hopes disadvantaged communities will be open to the concept of fluoridation as it could save their children from dental issues.

Unlike Turner, Kawerau mayor Malcom Campbell is against fluoridation but is pleased to see the Government make moves to remove the decision from the council.

'As far as I'm concerned it's the right move; mucking around with the DHBs, they'll never make their minds up anyway,” he says.

'It should be the same thing with chlorine in the water. Everything should be directed by a power that's not elected.”

Kawerau District Council reviewed fluoridation of water in the late 2000s and after consultation with the community decided not to fluoridate its drinking water supply.

Campbell says most of the community had been vehemently against fluoridation.

'I've always been anti-fluoride,” he says.

'I think there's a whole lot of issues they should look at first before fluoridating our water, whether we like it or not, such as all the sugary drinks kids drink nowadays. But that aside, it's definitely the right move but there won't be a lot of people happy about it … Ashley Bloomfield is the man now and he can suffer the consequences.”

Associate health minister Ayesha Verrall expects the bill to pass by the end of the year.

It will simplify decision-making and ensure there is a consistent nationwide approach, says Verrall.

'Right now, only around 2.3 million New Zealanders have access to fluoridated drinking water. Community water fluoridation is a proven public health measure that will make a big difference to children's wellbeing,” she says.

'The current level of fluoride found naturally in our water supplies is not enough to prevent tooth decay.”

Local councils will remain responsible for the capital and operational costs of fluoridation, but the Government will provide support if needed.