Ref:SR 2541822
Civic House, 110 Trafalgar Street
PO Box 645, Nelson 7040, New Zealand
P (03) 546 0200
12 December 2025
E [email address]
nelson.govt.nz
Sovereign Sharna
By E-mail Only: [FYI request #32674 email]
Dear Sovereign Sharna
OFFICIAL INFORMATION REQUEST – FLUORIDATION
I refer to your official information request transferred to Nelson City Council from the Ministry
of Health, relating to parts 3, 5, 11, 12, 14 and 16-18 of your original request to them.
These transferred parts are reproduced here in bold type with our responses below:
A. Supply & Production
3. Provide the full chemical composition, including chemical names, chemical
formulae, and concentrations of all fluoride compounds added to the public water
supply.
Council uses Hydroflurosilicic acid 22% as H2SiF6 for fluoridation of the Nelson City 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.
Council does not have any specific
‘..details of any chemical by-products, waste, or residues
generated during production, storage or transport.’ We suggest you contact the product
supplier for this information.
Please refer to the Council website for annual water quality test results or by using the
following link
test results. The NWTP Clearwater results show the test results post the addition
of fluoride to the water. Council has not commissioned any studies on environmental and
human health impacts of fluoridation.
C. Contractors & Distribution
11. Identify all contractors, consultants, and water treatment personnel who handle,
dose, or monitor fluoride chemicals.
This information can be researched, collated and supplied to you*, although it is likely we
would withhold individuals’ names.
12. Provide full contract details, including terms of service, duration, performance
bonds, insurance coverage, and any professional certifications required.
This information can be researched, collated and supplied to you*, although some parts may
need to be withheld/redacted in reliance of section 7(2)(b)(ii) of the Local Government Official
Information and Meetings Act 1987 (LGOIMA) to protect the commercial positions of third
parties.
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.
Council has been directed by the Director General of Health (27 July 2022) to fluoridate the
Nelson City Water Supply.
Council’s use of hydrofluorosilicic acid was approved by the Ministry
of Health.
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.
We hold information relating to Nelson City Council’s construction stage, which can be
researched, collated and supplied to you.*
17. Provide documentation of regulatory compliance, inspections, or audits by
government or third-party authorities.
This information can be researched, collated and supplied to you.*
18. Disclose any incidents, complaints, or breaches relating to fluoride chemical
safety, handling, or dosing.
This information can be researched, collated and supplied to you.*
*
These parts of your request are granted, subject to charges for staff time to research,
collate and prepare for release, including the application of necessary redactions (in
reliance of relevant reasons prescribed by sections 6 and 7 of the LGOIMA).
We estimate up to 3 hours’ of work would be involved. This is charged at a rate of $50
per half an hour, in accordance with our Fees and Charges Schedule, noting that the
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first complimentary hour has already been expended. Payment of charges is required
ahead of the work being done – section 13(4) of the LGOIMA refers. We do not
consider that a full or partial remission of these charges would be appropriate in the
circumstances.
Please let us know by 5 January 2026 if you would like to proceed, in which case we will raise
an invoice for payment. If we have not heard from you by then, we will not take any further
action and the Service Request will be closed.
Alternatively, you may wish to instead review the information that is already publicly available
on our website here:
Nelson City Council directed to fluoridate water - Nelson City Council
with a view to submitting a narrowed request, as a way to avoid or reduce charges.
You have the right to seek an investigation and review by the Ombudsman of this response.
Information about how to make a complaint is available at
www.ombudsman.parliament.nz or
Freephone 0800 802 602.
Yours sincerely
Alec Louverdis Deputy Chief Executive/Executive Director Delivery
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