H2025074650 partial transfer to councils under to LGOIMA.pdf

133 Molesworth Street
PO Box 5013
Wellington 6140
New Zealand
T+64 4 496 2000

05 December 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. On the 26 November 2025 the
Ministry transferred several parts of your request to the relevant agencies under section 14(b)(i)
of the Act. This included questions 3, 5, 15, 16, 17, 18 and 20 to the Water Services Authority -
Taumata Arowai, question 10 to NZ Transport Agency - Waka Kotahi and question 18 to
WorkSafe.

The Ministry also noted your request also seeks information which is both held by, and more
closely connected to the functions of, several local authorities. The Ministry has consulted 32
local authorities to assess what information they hold in relation to your request. This has been
in order to transfer the relevant parts of your request to these local authorities under section 12
of the Local Government Official Information and Meetings Act 1987 (LGOIMA) and section 14
of the Official Information Act.

Please note that each council wil  assess your request to determine how to appropriately
respond under the requirements of the LGOIMA and determine how much information they
hold. This wil  only pertain to information held by the respective council; and not information held
by other bodies subject to the OIA/LGOIMA. If this would require a significant amount of
research collation in order to fulfil your request, they may consider a charge for the provision of
information in line with the LGOIMA. If this is the case, the respective council wil  contact you.

The Ministry has partially transferred your request to the following local authorities for
information they hold:

Ashburton District Council – questions 1, 4 & 11.
They can be contacted at: [email address].

For Auckland Council, please refer to Watercare Services Limited who can address
questions 3, 5, 17, and 18.

Watercare Services Limited can be contacted at: [email address]
If you wish to make a further request or seek additional information from Auckland council, they
can be contacted at: [email address].

Dunedin City Council – questions 1,3, 4, 5, 7, 8, 9, 11, 12, 16, 17, 18 & 21.
They can be contacted at: [email address].

Gisborne District Council – all parts of your request. Please note they wil  assess what
information they hold once transfer of your request has been completed. Some parts of your
request may be refused, on the grounds that there no information in scope, once the council
has carried out their assessment. Additionally, the council wil  assess if your request may incur
a fee for substantial collation and research.

They can be contacted at: [email address].

Hamilton City Council – all parts of your request. Please note they wil  assess what
information they hold once transfer of your request has been completed. Some parts of your
request may be refused, on the grounds that there no information in scope, once the council
has carried out their assessment. Additionally, the council wil  assess if your request may incur
a fee for substantial collation and research.

They can be contacted at:  [email address].

Horowhenua District Council – questions 3, 5,16, 17, and 18.
They can be contacted at: LGOIMAOf [email address].

Invercargil  City Council – questions 3 & 18.
They can be contacted at: [email address] / [email address].

Kapiti District Council – questions 3, 5,15, 16, 17 and 18.
They can be contacted at: [email address].

Kawerau District Council – questions 4, 8, 9, 11, 16 & 17.
They can be contacted at: [email address].

Manawatu District Council – all parts of your request. Please note they wil  assess what
information they hold once transfer of your request has been completed. Some parts of your
request may be refused, on the grounds that there no information in scope, once the council
has carried out their assessment. Additionally, the council wil  assess if your request may incur
a fee for substantial collation and research.

They can be contacted at: [email address].

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Masterton District Council – questions 3, 4, 11, 14, 16 and 18.
They can be contacted at: [email address].

Nelson City Council – questions 3 (in relation to q 5), 5, 11, 12, 14, 16, 17 & 18.
They can be contacted at: [email address].

New Plymouth District Council – questions 3, 4, 8, 11, 12, 16, 17 & 18.
They can be contacted at: [email address].

Palmerston North City Council – all parts of your request. Please note they wil  assess what
information they hold once transfer of your request has been completed. Some parts of your
request may be refused, on the grounds that there no information in scope, once the council
has carried out their assessment. Additionally, the council wil  assess if your request may incur
a fee for substantial collation and research.
They can be contacted at: [email address].

Rotorua Lakes Council – questions 3, 5, 11, 16, 17 & 18.
They can be contacted at: [email address].

South Taranaki District Council – all parts of your request. Please note they wil  assess what
information they hold once transfer of your request has been completed. Some parts of your
request may be refused, on the grounds that there no information in scope, once the council
has carried out their assessment. Additionally, the council wil  assess if your request may incur
a fee for substantial collation and research.
They can be contacted at: [email address] / [email address].

South Waikato District Council – questions 3, 4, 5, 8, 11, 14, 16, 17 & 18.
They can be contacted at:  [email address].

Stratford District Council – all parts of your request. Please note they wil  assess what
information they hold once transfer of your request has been completed. Some parts of your
request may be refused, on the grounds that there no information in scope, once the council
has carried out their assessment. Additionally, the council wil  assess if your request may incur
a fee for substantial collation and research.
They can be contacted at: [email address].

Tararua District Council – questions 4, 11 & 12.
They can be contacted at: [email address].

Taupo District Council – questions 1, 3, 4, 11, 17 & 18.
They can be contacted at: [email address].

Tauranga City Council – all parts of your request. Please note they wil  assess what
information they hold once transfer of your request has been completed. Some parts of your
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request may be refused, on the grounds that there no information in scope, once the council
has carried out their assessment. Additionally, the council wil  assess if your request may incur
a fee for substantial collation and research.

They can be contacted at: [email address].

Thames-Coromandel District Council – questions 3, 5, 11, 12 16, 17 & 18.
They can be contacted at: [email address].

Waikato District Council – all parts of your request. Please note they wil  assess what
information they hold once transfer of your request has been completed. Some parts of your
request may be refused, on the grounds that there no information in scope, once the council
has carried out their assessment. Additionally, the council wil  assess if your request may incur
a fee for substantial collation and research.
They can be contacted at: [email address] / [email address].

Waipa District Council – all parts of your request. Please note they wil  assess what
information they hold once transfer of your request has been completed. Some parts of your
request may be refused, on the grounds that there no information in scope, once the council
has carried out their assessment. Additionally, the council wil  assess if your request may incur
a fee for substantial collation and research.

They can be contacted at: [email address].

Waitaki District Council – questions 3, 4, 8, 11 & 17.
They can be contacted at: [email address].

For Wellington councils, please refer to Wel ington Water – questions 1, 11 and 12. They
noted the following:

You may wish to refer the requestor to the Wellington Water website that provides specific
information about its use of Fl compounds in its reticulated potable water network:
https://www.wellingtonwater.co.nz/your-water-2/topic/drinking-water/whats-in-your-
water/monitoring-fluoride-levels-at-water-treatment-plants.

Wellington Water Limited also publishes its LGOIMA responses on its website, including
ones related to Fluoride:https://www.wellingtonwater.co.nz/publications/official-
requests/official-information-act-responses.

They can be contacted at [email address].

Western Bay of Plenty District Council – all parts of your request. Please note they wil
assess what information they hold once transfer of your request has been completed. Some
parts of your request may be refused, on the grounds that there no information in scope, once
the council has carried out their assessment. Additionally, the council wil  assess if your request
may incur a fee for substantial collation and research.
They can be contacted at: [email address].

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Whakatane DC – questions 3, 5, 16, 17 & 18.
They can be contacted at: [email address].

Whangarei District Council – all parts of your request. Please note they wil  assess what
information they hold once transfer of your request has been completed. Some parts of your
request may be refused, on the grounds that there no information in scope, once the council
has carried out their assessment. Additionally, the council wil  assess if your request may incur
a fee for substantial collation and research.
They can be contacted at: [email address] or [email address].

The following councils did not accept the transfer, as they advised they held no information in
scope of your request. Should you wish to make a further request for of icial information, they
can be contacted at:
  •  Far North District Council. This is because they have only recently received the
direction from the Ministry to fluoridate their water supplies. As such, they have not yet
commenced their fluoridation operations and do not hold any information in scope of
your request. They can be contacted at:  [email address]
•  Hastings District Council. They can be contacted at: [email address]
•  Matamata-Piako District Council. They can be contacted at: [email address]

As noted above, each council wil  only address your request for information held by their
respective council and in line with the LGOIMA. Additionally, outlined on the councils’ respective
websites, a fee may be incurred if parts of your request require substantial collation or research.
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

Jan Torres
Manager, OIA Services
Government and Executive Services | Te Pou Whakatere Kāwanatanga

Page 5 of 7

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.
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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 7 of 7