Are Tauranga Council Neglectfull Over Fluoridation?
As part of my candidacy for Mayor in 2028, I have today sent a formal legal demand to the Mayor, CEO, and all Tauranga City Councillors.
The demand is simple:
Produce Environmental Impact Reports (EIRs) for fluoridation discharges into our land, sea, food supply, livestock water, and homes.
Or confirm that no such reports exist.
<Previous Thread
Why It Matters
The compound being added is not “natural fluoride.” It is H₂SiF₆ (fluorosilicic acid) — an industrial toxic waste by-product, known to carry contaminants like arsenic, lead, and radionuclides.
This is not just about the environment. It is about:
Kaimoana (seafood) and Māori rights under the Treaty.
Food production and livestock safety.
Children and infants. Babies are 100% dependent on fluids — formula, breastmilk, baths — and are therefore the most exposed to this toxin.
Legal Liability
Under New Zealand law:
Crimes Act 1961, Section 195 – harming a child through conduct is a criminal offence.
Oranga Tamariki Act 1989 – defines child abuse as harm, neglect, or deprivation.
Without Environmental Impact Reports, Tauranga City Council may be engaged in:
Child Abuse – exposing infants to toxins.
Neglect – failure to provide safe conditions.
Ongoing Endangerment – systemic daily exposure.
The Demand
Council has been given 24 hours to comply. If they cannot produce Environmental Impact Reports, it will be taken as acknowledgment that none exist. This will be advanced publicly and legally.
This is about truth, transparency, and protection of our children.
Respectfully,
Ian Stephenson
Citizen of Tauranga / Candidate for Mayor 2028
Ko taku kawenata hei kaitono mō te Koromatua o Tauranga i te tau 2028, he tiaki i ngā mea tika kia tae noa mai he taunakitanga pono hei whakahē. Tae noa mai ki tēnei wā, kāore anō kia puta.
Kua kitea e au he kōrero teka, he koretake, he mahi hē anake. Ko te tukunga o tēnei para paitini ki roto i ngā wai māori me te moana, ka puta pea he parekura ā-taiao ki te ao whānui. He kino anō hoki ki ā tātou tamariki, ā, he takahi i ngā tika tuku iho o te iwi Māori, e whakawhirinaki ana ki te wai mā, ki te kaimoana hei oranga.
Kāore au e pai ana kia toia tonutia te taura.
The Email 28-08-2025 >> 9:00 pm
Subject: Formal Demand: Environmental Impact Reports on Fluoridation – Child Abuse & Neglect Liability
Kia ora,
This communication is directed to all sitting councillors, the Mayor, and the Chief Executive of Tauranga City Council. Each of you is now formally on notice of the following:
Distinction of Compounds
Natural fluoride (calcium fluoride) exists in trace amounts in groundwater, bound in mineral form.
H₂SiF₆ (fluorosilicic acid) is not natural fluoride. It is an industrial toxic waste by-product captured from phosphate fertiliser scrubbers, known to contain contaminants such as arsenic, lead, and radionuclides.
Legal and Treaty Breaches
Resource Management Act 1991 – Section 15 prohibits discharge of contaminants into water, land, or air without lawful consent.
Health Act 1956 – Councils have a duty to protect public health, not expose citizens to toxins.
Bill of Rights Act 1990, Section 11 – Protects the right to refuse medical treatment; compulsory fluoridation removes this right.
Treaty of Waitangi, Article II – Active protection of taonga, including clean water and kaimoana, is required. Discharges that disproportionately harm Māori communities are a direct breach.
Areas of Impact
Environment – Land and Sea: contamination of rivers, aquifers, and coastal ecosystems.
Human Food Production: uptake into crops, processed foods, and infant formula.
Livestock Watering: accumulation in bone, milk, and meat.
Direct Human Exposure: absorption through showers, baths, and swimming pools.
Infant Risk – Child Abuse & Neglect Liability
Under New Zealand law:
Oranga Tamariki Act 1989 defines child abuse as “the harming (whether physically, emotionally, or sexually), ill-treatment, abuse, neglect, or deprivation of any child or young person.”
Crimes Act 1961, Section 195 makes it an offence to “engage in conduct that causes harm to a child or vulnerable person.”
Infants are 100% dependent on fluids for survival and development. Introducing H₂SiF₆ into the only available water supply means:
Babies consume this toxin through formula, food preparation, and bathing.
Mothers pass fluoride through breastmilk.
This exposure is continuous and systemic.
Without Environmental Impact Reports or infant-specific toxicology reports, Council’s actions may constitute:
Child Abuse – knowingly exposing children to harm.
Neglect – failure to provide safe conditions.
Ongoing Endangerment – continuous, systemic exposure.
Formal Demand
We therefore require:
Copies of all Environmental Impact Reports (EIRs) covering the four domains above.
If no such reports exist, explicit confirmation of their absence.
You have 24 hours from receipt of this communication to comply. (10:00 28/08/2025 to 10:00 29/09/2025)
Failure to respond will be taken as acknowledgment that no Environmental Impact Reports exist. This conclusion will be tabled publicly, and further legal and civic action will proceed on the basis that Tauranga City Council is operating outside lawful obligations and may be exposing children to harm under the Crimes Act 1961.
Respectfully,
Ian Stephenson
Citizen of Tauranga / Candidate for Mayor 2028
Who it went to
Welcome to the War Room. I have decided that this is all Child Abuse.
- Discredit Truth
- Attack the person presenting the actual facts
- Reverse the Victim (the public)
- and
- Offender (the 'official body')
Fluoride Campaign Dossier – Tauranga 2025
Core Narrative
Tauranga City Council is adding H₂SiF₆ (fluorosilicic acid) to the public water supply.
This is not naturally occurring calcium fluoride; it is an industrial toxic waste by-product captured from phosphate fertiliser scrubbers, contaminated with arsenic, lead, and radionuclides.
By introducing this toxin into water, the Council contaminates land, sea, food production, livestock, and human health.
Infants, being 100% dependent on fluids (formula, breastmilk, bathing), are the most vulnerable. This constitutes child abuse, neglect, and ongoing endangerment.
Legal Anchors
Resource Management Act 1991 (RMA) – Section 15 prohibits contaminant discharge without consent.
Health Act 1956 – Duty to protect public health.
New Zealand Bill of Rights Act 1990, Section 11 – Right to refuse medical treatment.
Treaty of Waitangi, Article II – Active protection of taonga, including water and kaimoana.
Oranga Tamariki Act 1989 – Defines child abuse as harm, neglect, or deprivation of children.
Crimes Act 1961, Section 195 – Criminal offence to engage in conduct that causes harm to a child or vulnerable person.
Strategic Actions Taken
Public Record – At Te Puke mayoral candidate meeting, Ian Stephenson asked: “Will you rescind fluoridation?” Candidates publicly replied: “Too expensive.” (filmed).
Formal Demand – Delivered to Mayor, CEO, councillors, Rob Donald (BOPRC), and media. Gave 24 hours to produce Environmental Impact Reports (EIRs) or confirm their absence.
Child Abuse Framing – Explicitly linked fluoridation to liability under Crimes Act and Oranga Tamariki Act.
Public Publication – Blog and notices reframed fluoridation as child abuse and neglect.
Media & Witnesses – Plunket and local media cc’d to lock in accountability.
Escalation Path
Council Response Window (24 hrs) – If no EIRs, issue public expiry notice.
Treaty Framing – Emphasise Māori rights: kaimoana as taonga, Māori infants disproportionately harmed. Engage Māori councillors directly (Hemi Rolleston, Hautapu Baker).
Ministry Escalation – Council likely to defer to Ministry of Health. Position this as a systemic MoH failure.
Media Release – Publish meeting footage + Council silence. Frame: “Candidates refused to rescind; Council failed to produce evidence.”
Campaign Expansion – Align fluoride with broader toxification policies: mRNA, folic acid fortification, etc. → systemic child abuse framework.
Messaging Framework
Fluoridation = toxification of water.
Infant risk = 100% exposure → neglect + abuse.
Council silence = complicity.
Treaty breach = failure to protect taonga + Māori babies.
Campaign mantra: “No candidate can win while supporting child abuse policies.”
28-08-2025: Question: Do we have Allies?
Tēnā kōrua Hemi rāua ko Hautapu,
As Māori representatives on Tauranga City Council, your leadership is vital at a time when critical issues affect both the community and tangata whenua.
Council is currently adding H₂SiF₆ (fluorosilicic acid) — an industrial waste by-product — into Tauranga’s water supply. This is not natural fluoride; it is contaminated with arsenic, lead, and radionuclides.
We are raising urgent concerns because:
Kaimoana (taonga): fluoride discharges accumulate in our coastal waters, directly affecting food sovereignty. (Please see details below)
Whānau health: infants are 100% dependent on fluids, meaning Māori babies are disproportionately exposed.
Te Tiriti o Waitangi: Article II affirms the Crown’s duty to actively protect taonga, including water, land, and kaimoana.
We have issued a formal demand to Council for copies of Environmental Impact Reports (EIRs). If these do not exist, the continuation of fluoridation may be seen as exposing children to harm, potentially breaching both the Crimes Act 1961 and Oranga Tamariki Act 1989.
We invite you to stand with us on this issue — not as politics, but as kaitiaki. Protecting the health of tamariki and the integrity of taonga is a responsibility we all share.
Kia kaha!
Ian Stephenson
Citizen of Tauranga / Candidate for Mayor 2028
This is a copy of the email sent to the rest of council at 10:00 am - 28/08/2025
28-08-2025: Let's see if anyone has an actual Enviromental Impact Report?
Kia ora Ministry of Health,
I am Ian Stephenson (Tauranga mayoral candidate 2028). Under the Official Information Act 1982, I request the following information relating to the addition of fluorosilicic acid (H₂SiF₆) to Tauranga’s drinking water:
Environmental Impact / Risk Assessments
Any Environmental Impact Reports (EIRs), risk assessments, or equivalents evaluating discharges to land, stormwater, wastewater, harbour/estuary, and effects on kaimoana.
Assessments of cumulative and downstream effects, including bioaccumulation.
Contaminant Characterisation & Quality Assurance
Certificates of analysis and impurity profiles (e.g., arsenic, lead, radionuclides) for supplied fluorosilicic acid over the last 24 months.
Source/supply chain documentation, batch COAs, and acceptance criteria.
Regulatory Basis & Consents
Any consents, authorisations, or directions relied on (including interactions with RMA s15, Health Act, Drinking Water Standards, and Director-General’s directions if applicable).
Internal legal or policy advice summarising how these satisfy environmental discharge obligations.
Monitoring & Incident Records
Monitoring plans, sampling methods/frequency, and results for finished water and environmental receiving environments.
Non-conformance/incident reports and corrective actions in the last 5 years.
Vulnerable Populations & Alternatives
Risk assessments specific to infants and pregnant women, dose/exposure modelling, and precautionary considerations.
Analysis of alternatives (including non-chemical dental health strategies).
Treaty & Engagement
Any Te Tiriti impact assessments and records of consultation with Māori/iwi regarding effects on taonga (including water and kaimoana).
Timeframe & Urgency (s12(3))
Given imminent public health and environmental implications and high public interest during an election preparation, I request urgency. Please provide the above within 5 working days, or sooner if available. If full collation within this period is not possible, please release on a rolling basis as documents are identified.
Please supply documents electronically (PDFs or links). If any part is withheld, cite the specific OIA grounds and provide an index of withheld material.
Ngā mihi,
Ian Stephenson
28-08-2025: MOH Who forced the toxic chemicals into our food.
Subject: Urgent Request – Infant Exposure & Shellfish Safety Outcomes Related to Fluoridation
To: foodsafety@mpi.govt.nz (cc: OIArequests@mpi.govt.nz)
Kia ora Food Safety Authority,
I am Ian Stephenson (Tauranga mayoral candidate 2028). Following advice from Bay of Plenty Regional Council, I request urgent information under the Official Information Act 1982 regarding Tauranga water fluoridation and its potential impacts on infants and seafood safety.
Specifically, please provide:
Infant Feeding Outcomes
Any risk assessments, studies, or safety evaluations on infant exposure to fluorosilicic acid (H₂SiF₆) and its contaminants (arsenic, lead, radionuclides).
Dose modelling for babies consuming formula reconstituted with fluoridated water.
Any alerts, advisories, or guidance issued to parents, Plunket, DHBs, or iwi regarding infant feeding and fluoridated water.
Seafood & Algal Bloom Records
Monitoring records for shellfish safety in Bay of Plenty waters, particularly any toxin warnings linked to algal blooms since 2010.
Assessments of whether fluoridation discharges contribute to marine nutrient or toxin cycles.
Any cross-agency correspondence between NZFSA, MPI, and BOPRC on these issues.
Treaty Considerations
Consultation or engagement records with Māori/iwi concerning fluoridation impacts on kaimoana (taonga species) and infant health.
Timeframe & Urgency
This request relates directly to infant safety and child health. I request urgency under section 12(3) of the OIA, with a response within 5 working days, or earlier if available.
If full collation is not immediately possible, please release material progressively as located. If any information is withheld, please cite the statutory grounds.
Ngā mihi,
Ian Stephenson
Candidate for Mayor – Tauranga 2028
28-08-2025: Plunket
My question is specific and scientific:
Has Plunket ever received (or produced) an infant-specific risk assessment for 0–6 month fully formula-fed babies where formula is made with fluoridated water at 0.7–1.0 mg/L? I’m asking for the dose model (mg F/kg/day) you rely on, including assumed daily fluid intake and infant body weight. Please share the document title(s), author(s), and date(s).
What margin of safety is applied for this exposure group, given a 100% liquid diet, and what endpoints were considered (e.g., dental fluorosis, thyroid, neurodevelopment, skeletal)?
If no infant-specific assessment exists, please confirm in writing that Plunket has no guidance beyond general statements about community fluoridation.
Context for why this matters: simple arithmetic gives ~0.10–0.20 mg/kg/day for a 5-kg infant drinking 700–1000 mL/day at 0.7–1.0 mg/L. That aligns with published estimates for infants in fluoridated areas (≈0.11–0.20 mg/kg/day). The CDC also notes parents may use low-fluoride water some of the time when mixing formula to lessen fluorosis risk. New Zealand research found fully formula-fed infants prepared with 0.7–1.0 mg/L water often exceed the ANZ UL and face increased fluorosis risk.
I’m not after a general “water is safe” statement — I need the actual infant dose calculation and the documented assessment Plunket uses for fully formula-fed babies.
Refs
NRC review shows estimated infant intakes of 0.11–0.20 mg/kg/day in fluoridated areas; also highlights many young children exceeding 0.07 mg/kg/day in some studies. ActionPA.org
CDC: parents can use low-fluoride water some of the time to mix infant formula to lessen fluorosis risk. CDC
NZ study (Cressey 2010): fully formula-fed infants using 0.7–1.0 mg/L water frequently exceed the ANZ Upper Level and have increased fluorosis risk. PubMed
ANZ NRVs / FSANZ labelling: infant formula above set fluoride thresholds must include a fluorosis warning. Eat For HealthHealth Victoria
27/08/2025 - TePuna Te Puna Heartlands election candidate Meeting
28/08/2025 - Is Water A Food Ingredient and Who Is Responsible For It?
I called them. They said it was someone else.
28/08/2025 - Lets Ask Plunket What They Know
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