Press Release
Fluoride Action Network NZ
www.fannz.org.nz
$460K Vandal “OK” by Health Board
Criminal vandalism gets “unanimous support” from the Hawke’s Bay District Health Board as long as you are “passionate
about health”. Or do you have to be on a $460K a year salary first? That is how much Chief Executive Kevin Snee was
being paid by the taxpayer while he vandalised fluoride-free signs on public property in Havelock North.
Deputy Chair Ngahiwi Tomoana said it was fair and reasonable to expect signs from other organisations to be removed from
district health board organised meetings when asked, and if that didn't happen there was justification for removing
them.
The signs were not at the meeting. They were outside on public property.
"Snce when does “removing” signs include trying to rip them in half and jumping up and down on them? Using that logic it
would mean fluoride-free advocates have the DHB’s consent to spray paint the mobile dental unit when it is parked
outside a fluoride-free meeting with pro-fluoride signage on it." says Mary Byrne, National Coordinator, Fluoride Action
Network NZ.
"This sanctioning of criminal behaviour by the DHB is absolutely astounding. These people seem to have no sense of
decency or civil responsibility, let alone democracy. Regardless of one’s views on fluoridation, every New Zealander
should be outraged at this refusal by the DHB to take responsibility for the criminal behaviour of its employee. The
entire Board should be dismissed.
These people claim to care about the rights of poor children, in promoting adding toxic fluoride chemicals to the public
water supply. They obviously don’t care about the rights of adults, let alone their obligation to obey the law. The
complaint of wilful damage has been accepted by the Police." says Ms Bynre
While paying Dr Snee $460K a year, they have the hypocrisy to say they could not afford $70-100K to hire two staff to
treat children’s teeth (if fluoridation were to stop). The fact is there would be no change in tooth decay.
Unfluoridated Napier had the same or less decay as Hastings for 50 years. An unexplained ‘overnight’ increase occurred
in Napier in 2006, which cannot have had anything to do with fluoridation, as Napier has never been fluoridated. As
decay rates steadily return to normal, the DHB continues to mislead the public by claiming the current minimal
difference is due to lack of fluoride.
ENDS