Attorney General Consistency with the New Zealand Bill of Rights Act 1990 for water fluoridation

Erika Whittome made this Official Information request to Judith Collins

Currently waiting for a response from Judith Collins, they must respond promptly and normally no later than (details and exceptions).

From: Erika Whittome

Dear Attorney General Judith Collins,

Please would you share the information on the Fluoridation of Drinking Water Amendment Act 2021 ? I was unable to locate the AG advice on https://www.justice.govt.nz/justice-sect...

1. I request the AG's Advice on consistency of Bills with the NZ Bill of Rights Act with this fluoridation act?
Specifically I am after the AG advice for section 11, the right to refuse medical treatment which is in BoRA (https://legislation.govt.nz/act/public/1...)

2. the advice on how the Health Act 1956 been considered in the fluoridation Act (and the prior fluoridation bills), specifically section 92I of the Health Act which says:
" (5) In no case may a direction require an individual to submit to
compulsory treatment."

Yours faithfully,

Erika Whittome

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From: Judith Collins (MIN)
Judith Collins

Thank you for contacting Hon Judith Collins KC MP, Attorney-General,
Minister of Defence, Minister for Digitising Government, Minister
Responsible for the GCSB, Minister Responsible for the NZSIS, Minister for
the Public Service and Minister for Space.

The Minister considers all correspondence important and appreciates you
taking the time to write. As the Minister receives a large amount of
correspondence, it is not always possible to personally reply to all
emails.

If your correspondence is related to a constituent matter, please get in
touch with the Minister's electorate team by email:
[email address]
or by calling (09) 2997426.
If your correspondence is diary related, requests will be processed
accordingly and we will be back in contact with you. If your
correspondence requires a response, you can expect a response in due
course.

If your correspondence relates to another Minister's portfolio, your
correspondence will be transferred to the appropriate Minister.

If your correspondence expresses an opinion, it will be noted.
If you have made a request for official information, this will be managed
in accordance with the provisions of the Official Information Act 1982,
which may include transfer to another Minister or agency.

If your request relates to media, it will be referred to the media team.
Latest information from the Beehive can be found here:
https://www.beehive.govt.nz/
If you are concerned about someone's wellbeing, you can call your local
mental health crisis team or NZ Police.

Thank you for taking the time to write.

Kind regards
Office of Hon Judith Collins KC MP

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From: Judith Collins (MIN)
Judith Collins

Dear Erika,

This is our acknowledgment of your OIA request.

Warm regards,
Office of Hon Judith Collins KC

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From: Judith Collins (MIN)
Judith Collins


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Kia ora Erika,

 

I refer to your official information request dated 1 October 2025.

 

I have transferred part one of your request to the Ministry of Justice.
The information to which part one of your request relates is not held by
the Attorney-General’s office but is believed to be held by the Ministry
of Justice as the agency that drafted the briefing. In these
circumstances, we are required by section 14 of the Official Information
Act to transfer your request.

 

You will hear further from the Ministry of Justice concerning that part of
your request.

 

Additionally, we believe part 2 of your request is more closely connected
with the functions of another agency. We are consulting on this and will
advise you of any decision to transfer part 2 of your request as soon as
possible.

 

Kind regards,

Erica

 

Office of Hon Judith Collins KC MP

 

Member of Parliament for Papakura

Attorney-General | Minister of Defence | Minister for Digitising
Government | Minister for the Public Service | Minister Responsible for
the GCSB | Minister Responsible for the NZSIS | Minister for Space
 

Website: [1]www.Beehive,govt.nz

Private Bag 18041, Parliament Buildings, Wellington 6160, New Zealand

 

Authorised by Hon Judith Collins KC, Parliament Buildings, Wellington

Disclaimer: The information in this email (including attachments) is
confidential and may be legally privileged. If an addressing or
transmission error has misdirected this email, please notify the author by
replying to this email and destroy the message. If you are not the
intended recipient, any use, disclosure, copying or distribution is
prohibited and may be unlawful.

Please note information about meetings related to the Ministers’
portfolios will be proactively released (this does not include personal or
constituency matters). For each meeting in scope, the summary would list:
date, time (start and finish), brief description, location, who the
meeting was with, and the portfolio. If you attend a meeting with the
Minister on behalf of an organisation, the name of the organisation will
be released. If you are a senior staff member at an organisation, or meet
with the Minister in your personal capacity, your name may also be
released. The location of the meeting will be released, unless it is a
private residence. The proactive release will be consistent with the
provisions in the Official Information Act, including privacy
considerations. Under the Privacy Act 1993 you have the right to ask for a
copy of any personal information we hold about you, and to ask for it to
be corrected if you think it is wrong. If you’d like to ask for a copy of
your information, or to have it corrected, or are concerned about the
release of your information in the meeting disclosure, please contact the
sender. You can read more about the proactive release policy
at [2]https://www.dia.govt.nz/Proactive-Releas...

 

 

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From: OIA@justice.govt.nz


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Tçnâ koe Erika,

We acknowledge receipt of your request partially transferred from Attorney
General office, under the Official Information Act 1982. 

This has been forwarded onto the relevant business unit to respond to. 

The Ministry may publish the response to your request on our website, you
can expect that if your OIA is to be published that this will take place
at least 10 working days after it has been sent you. Your name and any
other personal information will be withheld under Section 9(2)(a) (protect
the privacy of natural persons). 

You can expect a response by 13 November 2025.

Ngâ mihi nui,

 

Ministerial Services

   

Communications and Ministerial Services | Corporate Services

Ministry of Justice | Tâhû o te Ture [1]justice.govt.nz

 

 

From: Judith Collins (MIN) <[email address]>
Sent: Wednesday, October 15, 2025 6:44 PM
To: [FOI #32437 email]
Subject: RE: JCOIA-445 Official Information request - Attorney General
Consistency with the New Zealand Bill of Rights Act 1990 for water
fluoridation

 

Kia ora Erika,

 

I refer to your official information request dated 1 October 2025.

 

I have transferred part one of your request to the Ministry of Justice.
The information to which part one of your request relates is not held by
the Attorney-General’s office but is believed to be held by the Ministry
of Justice as the agency that drafted the briefing. In these
circumstances, we are required by section 14 of the Official Information
Act to transfer your request.

 

You will hear further from the Ministry of Justice concerning that part of
your request.

 

Additionally, we believe part 2 of your request is more closely connected
with the functions of another agency. We are consulting on this and will
advise you of any decision to transfer part 2 of your request as soon as
possible.

 

Kind regards,

Erica

 

Office of Hon Judith Collins KC MP

 

Member of Parliament for Papakura

Attorney-General | Minister of Defence | Minister for Digitising
Government | Minister for the Public Service | Minister Responsible for
the GCSB | Minister Responsible for the NZSIS | Minister for Space
 

Website: [2]www.Beehive,govt.nz

Private Bag 18041, Parliament Buildings, Wellington 6160, New Zealand

 

Authorised by Hon Judith Collins KC, Parliament Buildings, Wellington

Disclaimer: The information in this email (including attachments) is
confidential and may be legally privileged. If an addressing or
transmission error has misdirected this email, please notify the author by
replying to this email and destroy the message. If you are not the
intended recipient, any use, disclosure, copying or distribution is
prohibited and may be unlawful.

Please note information about meetings related to the Ministers’
portfolios will be proactively released (this does not include personal or
constituency matters). For each meeting in scope, the summary would list:
date, time (start and finish), brief description, location, who the
meeting was with, and the portfolio. If you attend a meeting with the
Minister on behalf of an organisation, the name of the organisation will
be released. If you are a senior staff member at an organisation, or meet
with the Minister in your personal capacity, your name may also be
released. The location of the meeting will be released, unless it is a
private residence. The proactive release will be consistent with the
provisions in the Official Information Act, including privacy
considerations. Under the Privacy Act 1993 you have the right to ask for a
copy of any personal information we hold about you, and to ask for it to
be corrected if you think it is wrong. If you’d like to ask for a copy of
your information, or to have it corrected, or are concerned about the
release of your information in the meeting disclosure, please contact the
sender. You can read more about the proactive release policy
at [3]https://www.dia.govt.nz/Proactive-Releas...

 

 

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From: Judith Collins (MIN)
Judith Collins


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Kia ora Erika,

 

I refer to your official information request dated 1 October 2025.

 

I have transferred part two of your request to the Ministry of Health. The
information to which part two of your request relates is not held by the
Attorney-General’s office but is believed to be held by the Ministry of
Health as the administrator of the Health Act 1956. In these
circumstances, we are required by section 14 of the Official Information
Act to transfer your request.

 

You will hear further from the Ministry of Health concerning that part of
your request.

 

Kind regards,

Erica

 

Office of Hon Judith Collins KC MP

 

Member of Parliament for Papakura

Attorney-General | Minister of Defence | Minister for Digitising
Government | Minister for the Public Service | Minister Responsible for
the GCSB | Minister Responsible for the NZSIS | Minister for Space
 

Website: [1]www.Beehive,govt.nz

Private Bag 18041, Parliament Buildings, Wellington 6160, New Zealand

 

Authorised by Hon Judith Collins KC, Parliament Buildings, Wellington

Disclaimer: The information in this email (including attachments) is
confidential and may be legally privileged. If an addressing or
transmission error has misdirected this email, please notify the author by
replying to this email and destroy the message. If you are not the
intended recipient, any use, disclosure, copying or distribution is
prohibited and may be unlawful.

Please note information about meetings related to the Ministers’
portfolios will be proactively released (this does not include personal or
constituency matters). For each meeting in scope, the summary would list:
date, time (start and finish), brief description, location, who the
meeting was with, and the portfolio. If you attend a meeting with the
Minister on behalf of an organisation, the name of the organisation will
be released. If you are a senior staff member at an organisation, or meet
with the Minister in your personal capacity, your name may also be
released. The location of the meeting will be released, unless it is a
private residence. The proactive release will be consistent with the
provisions in the Official Information Act, including privacy
considerations. Under the Privacy Act 1993 you have the right to ask for a
copy of any personal information we hold about you, and to ask for it to
be corrected if you think it is wrong. If you’d like to ask for a copy of
your information, or to have it corrected, or are concerned about the
release of your information in the meeting disclosure, please contact the
sender. You can read more about the proactive release policy
at [2]https://www.dia.govt.nz/Proactive-Releas...

 

From: Judith Collins (MIN)
Sent: Wednesday, 15 October 2025 6:44 PM
To: '[FOI #32437 email]'
<[FOI #32437 email]>
Subject: RE: JCOIA-445 Official Information request - Attorney General
Consistency with the New Zealand Bill of Rights Act 1990 for water
fluoridation

 

Kia ora Erika,

 

I refer to your official information request dated 1 October 2025.

 

I have transferred part one of your request to the Ministry of Justice.
The information to which part one of your request relates is not held by
the Attorney-General’s office but is believed to be held by the Ministry
of Justice as the agency that drafted the briefing. In these
circumstances, we are required by section 14 of the Official Information
Act to transfer your request.

 

You will hear further from the Ministry of Justice concerning that part of
your request.

 

Additionally, we believe part 2 of your request is more closely connected
with the functions of another agency. We are consulting on this and will
advise you of any decision to transfer part 2 of your request as soon as
possible.

 

Kind regards,

Erica

 

Office of Hon Judith Collins KC MP

 

Member of Parliament for Papakura

Attorney-General | Minister of Defence | Minister for Digitising
Government | Minister for the Public Service | Minister Responsible for
the GCSB | Minister Responsible for the NZSIS | Minister for Space
 

Website: [3]www.Beehive,govt.nz

Private Bag 18041, Parliament Buildings, Wellington 6160, New Zealand

 

Authorised by Hon Judith Collins KC, Parliament Buildings, Wellington

Disclaimer: The information in this email (including attachments) is
confidential and may be legally privileged. If an addressing or
transmission error has misdirected this email, please notify the author by
replying to this email and destroy the message. If you are not the
intended recipient, any use, disclosure, copying or distribution is
prohibited and may be unlawful.

Please note information about meetings related to the Ministers’
portfolios will be proactively released (this does not include personal or
constituency matters). For each meeting in scope, the summary would list:
date, time (start and finish), brief description, location, who the
meeting was with, and the portfolio. If you attend a meeting with the
Minister on behalf of an organisation, the name of the organisation will
be released. If you are a senior staff member at an organisation, or meet
with the Minister in your personal capacity, your name may also be
released. The location of the meeting will be released, unless it is a
private residence. The proactive release will be consistent with the
provisions in the Official Information Act, including privacy
considerations. Under the Privacy Act 1993 you have the right to ask for a
copy of any personal information we hold about you, and to ask for it to
be corrected if you think it is wrong. If you’d like to ask for a copy of
your information, or to have it corrected, or are concerned about the
release of your information in the meeting disclosure, please contact the
sender. You can read more about the proactive release policy
at [4]https://www.dia.govt.nz/Proactive-Releas...

 

 

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From: OIA Requests


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Kia ora Erika, 

 

Thank you for your request under the Official Information Act 1982 (the
Act), received by the Ministry of Health as a partial transfer from the
Attorney-General’s office on 16 October 2025. You requested:

 

The advice on how the Health Act 1956 been considered in the fluoridation
Act (and the prior fluoridation bills), specifically section 92I of the
Health Act which says:

" (5) In no case may a direction require an individual to submit to
compulsory treatment."

 

The reference number for your request is H2025074187. As required under
the Act, the Ministry will endeavour to respond to your request no later
than 20 working days after the day your request was received:
[1]http://www.ombudsman.parliament.nz/.   

 

If you have any queries related to this request, please do not hesitate to
get in touch ([2][email address]).

 

Ngā mihi 
 
OIA Services Team 
[3]Ministry of Health information releases 

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References

Visible links
1. http://www.ombudsman.parliament.nz/
http://www.ombudsman.parliament.nz/
2. mailto:[email address]
mailto:[email address]
3. https://www.health.govt.nz/about-ministr...
https://www.health.govt.nz/about-ministr...

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