Fluoride will be added back into the water supply of Hastings, New Zealand, starting next week. This comes after an eight-year break, which was caused by the Havelock North water crisis. In 2016, the town’s water was contaminated with a bacteria called campylobacter, causing four deaths and 5,000 illnesses.
To ensure water safety, the Hastings District Council stopped adding fluoride and started using chlorine instead. At that time, it was not possible to use both. However, recent upgrades to the water system have made it possible to use both fluoride and chlorine.
Fluoride has been used in Hastings’ water since the 1950s. In 2013, the public voted in favor of its use, according to Mayor Sandra Hazlehurst. She added that the council always planned to bring back fluoride once the new water storage and treatment facilities were ready. This plan was further supported by the Ministry of Health’s directive to restart fluoridation.
In July 2022, Dr. Ashley Bloomfield, the Director General of Health, instructed 14 councils, including the Hastings District Council, to add fluoride to their water supplies. Starting next week, fluoride will be added to the main urban water supply that serves Hastings, Havelock North, Flaxmere, Bridge Pa, and Pakipaki.
However, the council is not required to add fluoride to the smaller community drinking water supplies at this time. For those who prefer non-chlorinated water without added fluoride, it is available at the community drinking water station in Hastings Civic Square.
