As part of the No More Glyphosate NZ Council Herbicide Transparency Project, we asked councils across New Zealand about herbicide use in public spaces, the products being used, the policies governing their use, and whether those practices have been formally reviewed.
South Waikato District Council provided one of the more detailed responses received through the project. The council supplied information from both its Parks and Reserves team and Roading team, identified herbicides used in public spaces, outlined application locations and frequencies, described restrictions applying to sensitive areas, and provided a Standard Operating Procedure governing herbicide application.
Quick Summary
| Topic | Response |
|---|---|
| Glyphosate-based herbicides used? | Yes |
| Other herbicides used? | Yes |
| Product list supplied? | Yes |
| Application locations identified? | Yes |
| Application frequency supplied? | Yes |
| Herbicide restrictions identified? | Yes |
| Public notification procedures supplied? | Yes |
| Review information supplied? | Yes |
| Supporting documents supplied? | Yes |
What We Learned
South Waikato District Council confirmed the use of several herbicide products within parks, reserves, road corridors, and native vegetation management areas.
The council advised that chemical weed control is permitted for fence lines, paths, structures, turf edging, and spot spraying of weeds in specified locations. However, herbicide use is not permitted within playground areas or along stream banks and lake edges.
The response also identified a range of operational controls, including Growsafe certification requirements, weather restrictions, signage requirements, record-keeping procedures, and restrictions around schools and other high-pedestrian-use areas.
In addition to the written response, the council supplied a Standard Operating Procedure used by both the Open Space Maintenance contractor and the council’s in-house Native Vegetation Maintenance team.
Where Herbicides Are Used
According to the council’s response, herbicides are used in:
- Parks and reserves
- Native vegetation management areas
- Fence lines
- Paths and structures
- Turf edges
- Road reserves
- Drainage channels
- Culvert inlets and outlets
- Around signs, marker posts, guardrails, and bridge abutments
- Footpath edges
- Car parks and paved areas
The council advised that herbicide weed control is not permitted within play areas or along stream banks or lake edges.
The council also noted that contractors avoid spraying frontages where it is evident that adjacent residents are maintaining the area themselves.
Products Identified
Herbicides and Weed-Control Products
| Product | Active Ingredient(s) |
|---|---|
| Knock Out | Glyphosate* |
| Lion Herbicide | Glyphosate* |
| Tag G2 | Glyphosate* |
| Versatil | Glyphosate* |
| Buster | Not specified |
| Agpro 10 | Not specified |
| Scrubcutter | Triclopyr* |
| Mustang Metsulfuron | Metsulfuron-methyl* |
| Donaghys Gunt 600 Glyphosate | Glyphosate |
Adjuvants and Application Aids
| Product | Purpose |
|---|---|
| Pulse Penetrant | Spray penetrant / adjuvant |
| Slikka | Spray adjuvant |
| Silmaxx | Spray adjuvant |
Note: Product names and active ingredients are based on publicly available product information where not explicitly stated in the council’s response.
Application Frequency
The council advised that herbicide applications within parks and reserves occur a minimum of four times per year, subject to local growth patterns.
Road corridor spraying is undertaken according to operational requirements and vegetation growth, while cleaning of traffic signs for moss, algae, and lichen occurs as needed.
Policies, Standards and Oversight
South Waikato District Council advised that herbicide use is governed by:
- NZS 8409:2004 Management of Agrichemicals
- Growsafe certification requirements
- The council’s Open Space Maintenance Contract
- The council’s Standard Operating Procedure for herbicide application
The Standard Operating Procedure includes requirements relating to:
- Safe transport and storage of agrichemicals
- Weather conditions for spraying
- Personal protective equipment
- Signage requirements
- Mixing and application procedures
- Environmental protection measures
- Record keeping
- Incident reporting
The council advised that all herbicides must be applied by a Growsafe-certified operator or by a person working under the supervision of a certified operator.
Public Notification and Safety Measures
The council’s Standard Operating Procedure requires “Spraying in Progress” signage to be placed at approaches to work areas during herbicide application activities.
The procedure also references the distribution of letters to residents identified as “No Spray” residents.
Additional restrictions apply around schools, pre-schools, and other areas with high pedestrian activity. The council advised that spraying in these locations should occur outside periods of high public use and that operators must suspend spraying activities if pedestrians enter the work area.
Review and Safety Considerations
The council advised that the current methodology for weed control was last reviewed in 2023 as part of the tendering process for the Open Space Maintenance Contract and the establishment of the Native Vegetation Maintenance team.
The council advised that, while glyphosate remains approved for use by the EPA, it continues to be used because it is considered a cost-efficient and effective option for controlling common and perennial weed species.
Documents Provided
South Waikato District Council supplied:
- Herbicide-use information from Parks and Reserves operations
- Herbicide-use information from Roading operations
- A Standard Operating Procedure for herbicide application
- Information relating to review processes and operational controls
Observations
South Waikato District Council provided one of the more comprehensive responses received through the Council Herbicide Transparency Project.
The response included information from multiple operational teams, identified herbicides used across a range of council activities, described application frequencies and restrictions, and provided a detailed Standard Operating Procedure governing herbicide use.
The council also supplied a detailed Standard Operating Procedure covering herbicide transport, mixing, application, environmental protection, public notification, record keeping, and safety requirements.
One notable aspect of the response was the council’s explicit prohibition on herbicide use within play areas and along stream banks and lake edges. The Standard Operating Procedure also included specific requirements relating to schools, pedestrian safety, environmental protection, signage, and record keeping.
The council was also one of the few local authorities to provide a detailed operational procedure rather than simply referring to legislation or contractor requirements.
Why This Matters
Councils manage parks, reserves, roadsides, sports facilities, and other public spaces used by residents every day.
Understanding what herbicides are being used, where they are applied, and what safeguards are in place helps improve transparency around public-space weed management.
The Council Herbicide Transparency Project aims to build a nationwide public record of how herbicides are managed across New Zealand’s local authorities, allowing residents to better understand practices in their own communities.
Information Request Details
| Item | Details |
|---|---|
| LGOIMA Reference | LG0079 |
| Request Submitted | 5 May 2026 |
| Response Received | 4 June 2026 |
Information current as supplied under LGOIMA on 4 June 2026.
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