Nelson Mayor Nick Smith has hit back at “disinformation” being spread on social media about fluoride in the city’s water.
Outdoors and Freedom Party co-leader Sue Grey had applied to speak during the public forum of Thursday morning’s Nelson City Council meeting to adopt its annual report.
Grey’s application was sought following a post to the party’s Facebook page a day prior that alleged that Nelson had started fluoridating its water supply after the party claimed to have measured fluoride at 0.98 parts per million in the city’s drinking water.
During Thursday’s meeting, the mayor dismissed the allegation as “disinformation” which was “completely false”.
After gaining an extension, Nelson is now required by the Ministry of Health to fluoridate its water by December 31.
Smith, while running through the agenda at the beginning of the meeting, said there were no applications to speak in the public forum that were consistent with the council’s standing orders – the rules for the conduct of council meetings.
Grey objected, standing up and approaching elected members, saying that she had applied to speak.
Smith, however, was firm in his denial of her speaking at the public forum.
“The standing orders are very clear, it’s in black and white, and that is that any application to present in public forum must be received at least two days prior to the meeting. Your application was received yesterday afternoon,” he said.
Grey, a lawyer, requested that the mayor use his discretion as chair of the meeting to allow her to speak – which he is able to do – but Smith maintained his position.
“Your behaviour is disorderly,” he said.
“It is not right, Sue, any more in court than in council, for you to stand where you are and to interrogate me as mayor. Councillors are entitled to do so, you are not.”
Smith also labelled the claim that the city was already fluoridating its drinking water as “disinformation” which was “completely false”, with fluoridation not occurring until after the council’s December meeting.
He added that opponents to fluoridation were scheduled to speak on the topic at the December meeting, ahead of the Ministry’s deadline.
Grey, along with several supporters, left after Smith threatened to have her removed from the building if she did not allow the meeting to continue.
Two cries of “disgrace” and “shame” were thrown by supporters as they left.
Speaking immediately after leaving the council chamber, Grey said the situation was “unbelievable”.
“We asked to be heard, and they just refused. It’s an astonishing lack of democracy, and lack of respect for the rule of law.”
Grey said she wanted to talk with the council to ensure “our rights are listened to”.
“This council, led by Nick Smith, is not even interested in listening to the concern.”
The Ministry of Health supports community water fluoridation as a safe, effective, and affordable way of preventing tooth decay.
Then Director-General of Health Ashley Bloomfield also said, when he directed Nelson to fluoridate its drinking water in 2022, that it would be “an important step in improving the oral health” of the city.
Local Democracy Reporting is local body journalism co-funded by RNZ and NZ On Air
