NZ - Court delay for Hamilton fluoride battle

By AUSTRALIAN ASSOCIATED PRESS

A battle over whether fluoride returns to Hamilton water will head back to court in June.

Anti-fluoride campaigners are seeking an interim order from the High Court to stop a resumption of water fluoridation ahead of a full legal battle.

The case had been scheduled for Wednesday but is now expected to take place in June at a date yet to be determined.

The campaigners will also seek a judicial review at a later date.

Hamilton District Council stopped adding fluoride to its water in 2013, but councillors voted nine to one to reintroduce it after 70 per cent of voters backed fluoridation in a non-binding referendum held during local body elections.

Fluoridation was to have resumed on Monday but the council deferred it, pending the court hearing, after Safe Water Alternative lodged papers in the High Court wanting to test the council's decision.

Hamilton started fluoridating its water in 1966 to fight tooth decay. Opponents say fluoride causes health problems.

Justice Rodney Hansen in March ruled South Taranaki District Council does have the legal power to add fluoride to drinking water, knocking back the legal challenge of New Health NZ.

Hamilton councillors had decided to wait until the South Taranaki court decision before committing to fluoridation again.