133 Molesworth Street
PO Box 5013
Wellington 6140
New Zealand
T+64 4 496 2000
26 November 2025
Sovereign Sharna
By email: [FYI request #32674 email]
Ref:
H2025074650
Tēnā koe Sharna
Partial transfer of your request for official information
Thank you for your request under the Official Information Act 1982 (the Act) to the Ministry of
Health - Manatū Hauora (the Ministry) on 26 October 2025. A full copy of your request is
appended to this Letter.
As noted in the Ministry’s email on Monday 24 November 2025, your request seeks information
which is held by several other agencies and local authorities. For this reason, I have decided to
partially transfer several parts of your request to the relevant agencies under section 14(b)(i) of
the Act. The transfers of the relevant parts of your request are outlined below:
3. Provide the full chemical composition, including chemical names, chemical formulae,
and concentrations of all fluoride compounds added to the public water supply.
5. Provide details of any chemical by-products, waste, or residues generated during
production, storage, transport, or dosing, including their environmental and human health
impacts.
15. Include all corporate affiliations, financial interests, and advisory bodies that influence
decisions regarding fluoride.
16. Provide copies of all risk assessments, environmental impact statements, monitoring
reports, and internal or external evaluations regarding fluoride safety, dosing, and public
health.
17. Provide documentation of regulatory compliance, inspections, or audits by government
or third-party authorities.
18. Disclose any incidents, complaints, or breaches relating to fluoride chemical safety,
handling, or dosing.
20. Include international case law, peer-reviewed studies, legal decisions, or
environmental assessments showing health or environmental risks, chemical by-products,
or public health outcomes linked to fluoride.
The following parts of your request have been transferred to the Water Services Authority -
Taumata Arowai. They can be contacted at the following address: [email address].
10. Include all applicable laws, licenses, and regulatory frameworks under which these
transporters operate, particularly regarding hazardous substances.
This part of your request has been transferred to NZ Transport Agency - Waka Kotahi. They
can address this question in a broader sense and provide applicable information to assist the
public interest in your request. They can be contacted at the following address:
[email address].
18. Disclose any incidents, complaints, or breaches relating to fluoride chemical safety,
handling, or dosing.
This part of your request has been transferred to WorkSafe. They can be contacted at the
following address: [email address].
You can expect a response from the respective agencies in due course.
Your request also seeks information which is both held by, and more closely connected to the
functions of, several local authorities. Some local authorities have been fluoridating the
drinking water they supply for a number of years. Additionally, some local authorities were
directed to fluoridate in July 2022 by the Director-General of Health. These are listed on the
Ministry’s website: www.health.govt.nz/strategies-initiatives/programmes-and-initiatives/oral-
health/implementation-of-community-water-fluoridation.
Please note any local authority may also choose to fluoridate any drinking water supplies
without being directed to, and any local authority that was fluoridating a drinking water supply
before the Health (Fluoridation of Drinking Water) Amendment Act 2021 came into effect must
continue to do so.
The Ministry is continuing to seek a transfer for relevant parts of your request to these local
authorities under the Local Government Official Information and Meetings Act 1987 (LGOIMA).
A further update on the transfer to the relevant local authorities will be provided to you as soon
as possible.
If you wish to discuss any aspect of your request with us, including this decision, please feel
free to contact the OIA Services Team on: [email address].
Under section 28(3) of the Act, you have the right to ask the Ombudsman to review any
decisions made under this request. The Ombudsman may be contacted by email at:
[email address] or by calling 0800 802 602.
Nāku noa, na
p.p.
Jan Torres
Manager, OIA Services
Government and Executive Services | Te Pou Whakatere Kāwanatanga
Page 2 of 4
COPY OF OIA REQUEST
From: Sovereign sharna <[FYI request #32674 email]>
Sent on: Saturday, October 25, 2025 11:51:13 PM
To: OIA/LGOIMA requests at Ministry of Health <[Ministry of Health request email]>
Subject: Official Information request - Fluoride Supply Chain Information
Dear Ministry of Health,
Request under the Official Information Act 1982 (OIA)
Pursuant to the Official Information Act 1982 (OIA), I am writing to request full access to all official
information held by the Ministry of Health relating to:
FLUORIDE SUPPLY CHAIN
1. Authority & Purpose
This request is made to obtain complete disclosure of all aspects of fluoride chemicals used in public
water supplies in New Zealand inclusing all [District/Region]. The purpose is to identify all suppliers,
transporters, contractors, decision-makers, environmental oversight, and safety compliance, leaving no
element undisclosed.
2. Information Requested
A. Supply & Production
1. Identify the factory/facility where the fluoride chemicals supplied to New Zealand water systems are
produced, including location, operator, and production process. Include all applicable laws, regulations,
licenses, and international standards governing manufacture.
2. Identify all upstream raw material suppliers, including chemical sources such as phosphate rock
suppliers, and any subcontracted labs or blending facilities.
3. Provide the full chemical composition, including chemical names, chemical formulae, and
concentrations of all fluoride compounds added to the public water supply.
4. Provide all Safety Data Sheets (SDS), production records, and toxicology studies related to the fluoride
chemicals supplied.
5. Provide details of any chemical by-products, waste, or residues generated during production, storage,
transport, or dosing, including their environmental and human health impacts.
6. Disclose all corporate entities, owners, and shareholders that profit from the manufacture or sale of
fluoride chemicals in New Zealand.
7. Clarify whether New Zealand currently manufactures fluoride chemicals domestically, imports ready-
made fluoride chemicals, or both, including details of manufacturers and import sources.
B. Transport & Logistics
8. List all companies involved in transporting fluoride chemicals from production sites to distributors,
councils, and water treatment facilities. Include freight, shipping, and air transport entities.
9. Provide shipping manifests, including transport schedules, storage conditions, and handling protocols
(personal driver details may be redacted).
10. Include all applicable laws, licenses, and regulatory frameworks under which these transporters
operate, particularly regarding hazardous substances.
C. Contractors & Distribution
11. Identify all contractors, consultants, and water treatment personnel who handle, dose, or monitor
fluoride chemicals.
12. Provide full contract details, including terms of service, duration, performance bonds, insurance
coverage, and any professional certifications required.
13. Disclose all corporate structures, shareholders, and profit arrangements related to these contractors.
D. Policy & Decision-Makers
14. List all individuals, boards, committees, and advisers who approve or recommend fluoride use in New
Zealand, including councils, Ministry of Health, and public health associations.
15. Include all corporate affiliations, financial interests, and advisory bodies that influence decisions
regarding fluoride.
Page 3 of 4
E. Compliance, Oversight & Safety
16. Provide copies of all risk assessments, environmental impact statements, monitoring reports, and
internal or external evaluations regarding fluoride safety, dosing, and public health.
17. Provide documentation of regulatory compliance, inspections, or audits by government or third-party
authorities.
18. Disclose any incidents, complaints, or breaches relating to fluoride chemical safety, handling, or
dosing.
F. Global Precedents & Case Studies
19. Provide documented information on countries that have ceased or restricted water fluoridation,
including Germany, Sweden, Japan, Netherlands, Finland, Israel, Hungary, and the United States (Utah).
20. Include international case law, peer-reviewed studies, legal decisions, or environmental assessments
showing health or environmental risks, chemical by-products, or public health outcomes linked to
fluoride.
21. Provide references to any policy or scientific evidence considered when approving or maintaining
fluoridation in New Zealand
Thankypu
Sharna
Page 4 of 4
