NZ and flouride....govt stuff

[birthmommom]

Hi,


I am wondering if you could tell me how NZ feels about fluoride?


I guess i should also add that I am wondering abotu the governtment in NZ also..ups and downs?

thanks

[loveharps]

Hi there, are you thinking about moving over here?

Nearly everywhere in NZ has flouride in the water :( the only 2 towns that I know *don't* is Paekakariki and Te Aroha, small towns with their own water supply. (I'm assuming that that is what you meant - how NZ feels about flouride in our drinking water?)


As for the Govt, there was as election last weekend and we are still wondering whos in parliament. I'm not sure if you know much about MMP, but it basically means that bigger partys have to form a coalition with smaller partys to get a majority in Parliament (did you understand that? sorry, its a little hard to explain this will probably do a better job than me! :LOL http://www.mmp.org.nz/html/mmpfpp.html)

So what happened on Saturday was that the election was so close between the bigger partys, Labour and National (about 1 point between them) that we won't know who will have the majority until 3 October when all the special votes are counted and the caolitions made.

Labour is centre-left, National will claim to be centre-right, but their much more right-wing I'd say. the smaller parties who got in are New Zealand First (centre) Act (right) United Future (right) and the Greens (left). Its looking like Labour will get in for the 3rd election in a row, which I'm hoping for because the leader of National is against our Anti-Nuke policy and a big fan of George Bush and America (not that I have anything against your country, I'm just against our country becoming another lap dog of George Bush)


Is that what you wanted to know? Or did I go into too much detail? :LOL I guess its hard to give an overveiw of our Govt at the moment, because we don't know what Govt we have yet.

[birthmommom]

Thank you ...that is exactly the kind of things I was looking for.

I have the thought of moving there in my head....but it will be a couple of years.

thanks again...and any other info along the way woudl be great

[loveharps]

Your welcome, I'll let you know wether its a country worth moving to once the election results are in :wink :LOL

[Castle]

Hey! I'm in Massachusetts and planning to move to NZ in a few years also. :)

Lu, can you tell me what the atmosphere is like there for non-vaxers?

[loveharps]

Its not compulsory to vax, but in saying that it is VERY strongly encouraged (the same as in most western countries theses days). I have never had any problems with my not vaxing. An organisation called Plunket does most of the Well Child checks in this country, and the Plunket nurses are ususally the ones who do the vaccinating. My plunket nurse asked if I was vaxing and when I said no, she asked why then accepted my explanation without another word, which was great, but I can't say that all of the medical profession here would be so accepting. All Plunket appointments are scheduled around the vaccine schedule.
Recently a new vaccine has come out, the MenzeB. It is a vaccine for mengiccocal B. It has become very controversial, with the fact that there have been no long term studys, and people have been pressured into getting it, and children who's parents have not consented have been given it against their wishes. More info on MenzeB here:http://www.newmediaexplorer.org/sepp/2004/10/18/new_zealand_meningococcal_vaccine_campaign_facts_d isregarded_risk_expert.htm
The one good thing about the controversy is that parents who would not normally think twice about vaccinating, have been doing more research and not consenting to the follow on shots.

I think that some, if not all kindergartens and schools ask for the childs vaccine records, just so that if an outbreak occurs they can notify the unvaxed families (and possibly so that there is another reason for us to be 'in the system' - but thats just my paranoid mind speaking :LOL )

IS that enough info? I'll look for some more websites to post to give you some more info.

Lu

[loveharps]

Here's a good quote which pretty much sums it up


In New Zealand vaccination of children is a matter of informed consent. A parent or caregiver may choose not to vaccinate their child at all or may choose to have their child receive only some vaccines from the childhood vaccination schedule.


its from the New Zealand Immunisation Awareness Society (www.ias.org.nz)

[Castle]

Thank you, Lu! Yes, that is exactly the kind of info I was looking for.

So it seems like though the atmosphere may be similar as the US, technically it's better, because you don't need to do things like jump through hoops filling out religious or medical exemptions to get the kids into school. Good to know.

Thanks again!

[loveharps]

I just thought I'd update you and let you know that we will be relatively safe from right-wing Bush lovers for the next 3 years :thumb
Labour has won, and will most likely go into a coalition with the Greens :broc:

[kiahnsmum]

Sorry to correct you on something little sis, but Plunket nurses dont give the shots, you go to your Dr for them.
I also wanna add that as this is a small country you are more likely to come across people who dont vax so I think you would feel less isolated in your choice if you lived here. There are several children at my sons small school who are not vaxed.