16 October 2020

Media: Rotorua Daily Post

Topic: Child dental health

Enquiry

I am doing a story about the severe dental issues in Bay of Plenty children.

Stats - Lakes DHB (last 2 years)

• 115 children went under general anesthetic for extractions due to dental carries.
• 92 children went under general anesthetic for extractions due to periapical abscess, with and without sinus.
• 318 children went under general anesthetic for dental extractions.

I spoke with the president of the Dental Association who said

In the Lakes and Bay of Plenty regions there is a lack of fluoride in the water supplies and this is a key factor in the relatively more severe dental decay experienced by children in these areas

• Why is fluoride excluded from the water supply?
• What plans are there around fluoridation? - Will more be pumped into the supply to help combat this severe problem in the region?
• What work is the council doing to combat the issues against children dental care?

Response

Why is fluoride excluded from the water supply?

Whether to add fluoride to water supplies is a policy matter and successive Rotorua councils that have considered this have voted against doing so. It was last considered in 2014 when elected members voted 7-6 against holding a community referendum on whether fluoride should be added to local water supplies.

NOTE FOR [REPORTER]: by 'successive Rotorua councils' we mean the elected members. Also, see Daily Post story from 2014 HERE re the 2014 decision]

What plans are there around fluoridation?

Council has no current plans regarding fluoridation but there is a proposed legislation change that will give health boards the responsibility for decision-making on fluoridation, as the experts in health, with responsibility for public health.

NOTE FOR [REPORTER]: See more HERE on the Ministry of Health website re proposed legislation change and HERE on NZ Parliament website. Not sure how far this has progressed to date but the Ministry should be able to help you with that].

Will more be pumped into the supply to help combat this severe problem in the region?

NOTE FOR [REPORTER]: As you're aware, RLC does not add fluoride to local water supplies so this is not a relevant question.

What work is the council doing to combat the issues against children dental care?

NOTE FOR [REPORTER]: This question should be referred to health authorities which are responsible for public health (eg Lakes DHB, Toi Te Ora Public Health).

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Media: TVNZ 1 News

Topic: Ranolf Street flats

Enquiry

*NOTE: this enquiry follows a previous enquiry related to these properties [see HERE]

Can you please give me a breakdown of which units are habitable and the ones which are uninhabitable? (ie 90x, x and x are habitable and 90x, x and x are uninhabitable)

Of the units that have been deemed fit for habitation, I'd like to know the date those units got the all-clear.

Follow-up question:

Just one more query. Can you tell me the date the Dangerous and Unsanitary Building Notices were put up at the Ranolf Street flats?

Response

Information provided:

Unit numbers Current status

90a remains inhabitable

90b remains inhabitable

90c notice lifted 2.11.2018

90d notice lifted 2.11.2018

90e remains inhabitable

90f notice lifted 21.11.2018

90g remains inhabitable

90h notice lifted 10.12.2018

92a notice lifted 25.01.2019

92b notice lifted 5.7.2019

92c notice lifted 11.12.2018

92d remains inhabitable

Follow up information:

The original notices were issued 1 December 2017 and re issued 4 September 2020.