Watts SimonSIMON WATTS (National—North Shore): I rise on behalf of the National Party and as the member of Parliament for North Shore on the second reading of the Health (Fluoridation of Drinking Water) Amendment Bill. National supports this bill and we will be wanting to submit a standard operating procedure which will require consultation with district health boards and local health authorities.They say that a healthy mouth is the gateway to a healthy body and I think it is absolutely the case in regards to oral health and the importance of oral health to our communities and I'll talk a little bit about some of my experience in some of our at-risk communities later on in my short contribution. But look the purpose of this bill is to transfer powers required around the fluoridation of water across from local government initially through to district health boards but now as a result of Supplementary Order Paper (SOP) 38 by Government through to the Director-General of Health.I think the Government's SOP that's been put on the Table in terms of putting that power into the hands of the director-general is an area that National does have some concerns for. As we've heard from previous speakers this evening this centralisation of decision making into single points or individuals is a concern for us and we are very much wanting to see that local communities remain and retain a voice in some of their local decision-making and hence why National will be making an SOP in regards to consultation which is so very important.We've heard a lot this evening around oral health outcomes and the importance around fluoridation particularly around preventable tooth decay. I guess there's a little bit of experience in terms of my background. So I spent a little bit of time working at Middlemore Hospital and the Counties Manukau District Health Board. I was working in a finance capacity at that district health board and I saw the significant challenges and the great work that that district health board does for its local community.I know a number of our speakers on the other side live and operate in a medical capacity within those communities. But in particular I was fortunate enough while I was there to work on some work with the University of Otago dental school with the set-up of the training institution that's been set up down there in South Auckland which I think is a great example of collaboration between training and experts in the area. Obviously the Otago dental school under the pro vice-chancellor Paul Brunton and other individuals like that—that combination of experience to build a dental capability in South Auckland can bring significant good to that community.One of the key drivers when we were looking at that opportunity was around the significant issues that we had particularly with those under the age of 18 with tooth decay. The statistics were very sobering in terms of the significant number of tamariki impacted by poor oral health and what was pretty much generally preventable tooth decay and we saw that flow on. It wasn't just for children; pregnant mothers as well were a significant area of risk profile in terms of oral health and then on to adults.I guess the emergency pain clinic that operates at Middlemore Hospital and other hospitals and district health boards around this country is an example of the ambulance at the bottom of the cliff. By that point when these individuals are coming in for tooth extraction there are no other options available in terms of that prevention. I think the demand for those services—again my colleagues around the House will know—is significant across the country and so I think the importance of focusing on prevention versus in effect the final outcome of tooth extraction at an adult stage has significant benefit not only for those individuals obviously in terms of the pain and discomfort they face but also in terms of their whānau their families and their local communities. So this is absolutely the right thing to do.I think the move from local government to the Ministry of Health really acknowledges that this is a health issue which it is and we've talked a little bit about the science around fluoridation. We're united as a House across the political spectrum around that aspect of science. We're really talking this evening around the execution and delivery of that.I must say going back to that point around consultation with local communities I do want to just spend a little bit of time to say that I think from National's perspective that element of consultation with local communities—hearing the local voice getting input and feedback in terms of this—is really really important and I think a key element of the fabric that makes up New Zealand. It is actually I guess as this moves to the select committee phase—of which I'm a member along with a number in the House here this evening—one of the points that we will consider.The other point I think from a select committee point of view will be the conversation around the cost aspect and the benefits. So we've talked about the benefits that will arise as a result of implementation of this bill but I think the element around cost and who will bear that cost is an important conversation because ensuring that that is allocated fairly and appropriately is an area that does need review.I talked a little bit about experience at Counties Manukau but I also had the benefit of working with the Auckland Regional Dental Service at Waitematā District Health Board when I worked there for nearly three years. I guess that is another example and that's a service that actually operates pan Auckland not only on the North Shore where I'm the member of Parliament but across Auckland. It does some great work particularly for those people that are still at school but there is a degree of challenge. They have workforce gaps like any other aspect of the health service. But again they are the clinical professionals that day in day out are seeing the consequence of preventable tooth decay.I know for many of those dental therapists and dental nurses and dentists the frustration of when they see young kids come into their service knowing that they are presenting with situations and oral health situations that are preventable is a significant frustration and I think a burden that sits on those individuals. So I know that those professionals out there along with the New Zealand Dental Association who I know support this bill will absolutely be pleased to see this move into reality.I think the other aspect was that you know while we talked a little bit about the Budget it is important to say that Budget 2021 did reduce funding for emergency dental. I mean I've just talked about the challenges of the adult pain clinic for dental services at Middlemore Hospital and the reality of funding cuts is going to hit hard for some of our most vulnerable in some of our communities. I think I just want to make sure that—you know while it all sounds good there are implications of some of that decision making on important people within our community.Lastly I think it was pleasing to see the support for this bill across the industry sector bodies. There were multiple medical bodies dentists. The majority of submitters that made submissions through the prior select committee process were positive around this change and I think that's really important in terms of forming that foundation and benchmark as we move into the next phase of execution around this bill.I'm going to pretty much finish it there. I've covered the key points that I'm wanting to raise this evening and I commend this bill to the House.