Orders to add fluoride to more than a dozen drinking water supplies have been ruled unlawful by the High Court, likely delaying plans for a significant expansion of fluoridation. A preliminary High Court decision has ruled those orders contained a procedural error - namely, Sir Ashley Bloomfield did not give specific consideration to the Bill of Rights Act in making them. It means the fluoridation orders could be set aside or returned to the Ministry of Health for reconsideration before a substantive hearing on the broader issue in 2024.

Further details are available here: https://www.rnz.co.nz/news/national/502390/sir-ashley-bloomfield-s-fluoridation-orders-unlawful-court-rules