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.
Masterton District Council provided a detailed response identifying four herbicide or weed-control products currently used in public spaces: Glyphosate Green, Meturon, Terbuthylazine and Vigilant paste. The council also provided information about where these products are used and the typical frequency of treatment.
The response included extensive extracts from the contract’s Scope Specifications and Outcomes schedule relating to vegetative control. These cover operator training, chemical and non-chemical weed control, spraying practices, public notification, the council’s No-Spray Register, restrictions around playgrounds and other public areas, aquatic environments, product selection and reporting requirements.
Quick Summary
| Topic | Response |
|---|---|
| Glyphosate-based herbicides used? | Yes – Glyphosate Green |
| Other herbicides used? | Yes |
| Alternative/non-chemical weed control used? | Yes – hand pulling and hoeing are specified in the contract requirements |
| Product list supplied? | Yes |
| Herbicide policy supplied? | No standalone policy supplied |
| SOP supplied? | No |
| Contractor specifications supplied? | Yes – relevant contract extracts included in the response |
| Application locations identified? | Yes |
| Application frequency explained? | Yes |
| Public notification mentioned? | Yes – signage required while spraying is in progress |
| No-Spray Register? | Yes |
| Restrictions around playgrounds? | Yes |
| Formal review identified? | No evidence of a formal review located |
| Ongoing herbicide reporting? | Yes – usage is recorded and reviewed through contract reporting |
What We Learned
Masterton District Council advised that Glyphosate Green, Meturon, Terbuthylazine and Vigilant paste are currently used for weed control in public spaces.
Glyphosate Green is used across several types of council-managed areas, including footpath boundaries and edges, cemetery hard surfaces and boundaries, reserves and other hard surfaces. Depending on the location, treatments range from approximately every four to eight weeks through to quarterly or as required.
Meturon and Vigilant paste are also used for noxious weed control, while Vigilant paste is used when trees, shrubs or noxious weeds are treated using a cut-and-paste method.
The council’s response provides considerably more detail than a simple product list. The supplied excerpt from the contract’s Scope Specifications and Outcomes schedule establishes requirements for chemical application, operator competency, public notification, non-chemical weed control, playgrounds, cemetery plots, aquatic areas and the council’s No-Spray Register.
The council stated that it could not locate evidence that its current overall approach to herbicide use in public spaces had been formally reviewed. Herbicide usage is, however, recorded on a rolling 24-month basis through monthly operational reporting and reviewed during monthly contract meetings.
Products Identified
| Product | Type / Active Ingredient | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Glyphosate Green | Glyphosate-based herbicide | Used on footpaths, cemetery hard surfaces and boundaries, reserves and other hard surfaces |
| Meturon | Herbicide | Used on reserves and for noxious weed control |
| Terbuthylazine | Herbicide | Used with Glyphosate Green on hard surfaces such as lime paths and pea metal |
| Vigilant paste | Herbicide paste | Used for noxious weeds and cut-and-paste treatment of trees, shrubs and noxious weeds |
Application Locations and Frequency
Masterton District Council provided the following application information:
| Product | Where Applied | Frequency |
|---|---|---|
| Glyphosate Green | Footpaths – boundaries, edges and kerb edges | 6–8 week schedule or as required |
| Glyphosate Green | Cemetery hard surfaces, edges and boundaries, except RSA sections | 4–6 weeks or as required |
| Glyphosate Green and Meturon | Reserves | 6–8 week schedule or as required |
| Glyphosate Green and Terbuthylazine | Hard surfaces, including lime paths and pea metal | Quarterly or longer |
| Vigilant paste and Meturon | Noxious weed control, including blackberry, mallow, old man’s beard and clover | As required |
| Vigilant paste | Cut-and-paste treatment of trees, shrubs and noxious weeds | As required |
The contract specifications also set out different methods depending on the location and size of weeds.
For general horticultural areas, weeds taller than 100mm or larger than 100mm × 100mm are to be hand pulled, while smaller weeds may be chemically controlled. In areas with a Natural level of service, noxious weeds may be chemically controlled regardless of height.
All weeds within playground areas are to be controlled by hand pulling only. The same requirement applies to weeds within cemetery plots.
Chemical edging is permitted only in designated areas and the spray edge is limited to 100mm. Chemical edge control is not permitted around playgrounds.
The specifications also state that chemical control is not to proceed at campgrounds, picnic areas and beach areas during school holidays, peak visitor periods from 1 December to 28 February, or weekends unless approved by the council.
Policies and Guidance
Masterton District Council did not provide a standalone herbicide policy or SOP. Instead, its response included relevant sections of its contract Scope Specifications and Outcomes schedule.
The council advised that Green By Nature spray operators must complete a course through Growsafe and meet the assessment requirements of the New Zealand Agrichemical Education Trust for the Growsafe Standard Certificate, demonstrating competency to manage the safe and responsible use of agrichemicals in accordance with NZS 8409:2021 Management of Agrichemicals.
The supplied contract specifications separately state that spraying shall be undertaken in accordance with the Growsafe Unit standard and that chemicals must be applied with care and accuracy.
Among the requirements identified in the supplied specifications:
- no chemical edging is permitted around playground assets;
- sprays must not contact non-target trees or vegetation;
- weeds growing through shrubs are to be manually removed unless a paste, gel or rollerball application method is used;
- sprays must not contact surfaces or assets susceptible to spray damage;
- the council’s No-Spray Register must be reviewed before spraying;
- spot spraying is generally required for noxious plant control;
- high-pressure application for emerging weeds or noxious plants requires council approval;
- cut-and-swab treatment is to be used where chemical spraying presents a risk to non-target species or when requested by the council;
- granular or prill products cannot be used for noxious plant control;
- agrichemicals must be applied in strict accordance with manufacturer label instructions;
- chemicals used by the contractor must have a hazard classification no greater than “Harmful Substance”;
- where possible, chemicals are to be low toxicity and present low risk or exposure to the public;
- other chemicals may be used only following approval of the COT and, where applicable, in consultation with the Regional Council;
- products used near aquatic areas, or where discharge into aquatic areas is possible, must be authorised for aquatic use in New Zealand;
- reasonable measures must be taken to minimise direct discharge of herbicide into water bodies, drains, water races and lakes;
- no chemical may have a contact re-entry period greater than “when fully dry”; and
- an approved wetting/sticking agent, penetrant and anti-drift agent is to be used with herbicide applications.
The specifications also state that the product used is to be as environmentally friendly as practicably possible and that the Beaufort Wind Scale is used to determine what agrichemical application can take place.
The contractor is required to provide six-monthly reports identifying products used and volumes of chemicals applied.
For noxious plants, the contractor must maintain a current Noxious Plant Control Report identifying locations, asset types, proposed treatments and costs where appropriate. The report and programme are submitted monthly in advance to the council for approval.
Public Notification and Chemically Sensitive Residents
The supplied contract specifications require signs indicating that spraying is in progress to be positioned at location entry points so members of the public receive warning that spraying is being undertaken.
Signs are required to remain in place until spraying has been completed.
The specifications also state that spraying should occur at a time of day that causes as little inconvenience to the public as possible, with particular care required when spraying near educational facilities or places of public assembly.
Masterton District Council also confirmed the existence of a No-Spray Register. The contract requires the register to be reviewed before spraying is undertaken.
No further information about eligibility, registration procedures or the operation of the No-Spray Register was included in the response supplied.
Review History
Masterton District Council stated that it had been unable to locate evidence that its current approach to herbicide use in public spaces had been formally reviewed.
However, the council advised that its monthly operational report records herbicide usage on a rolling 24-month basis, including explanations for fluctuations.
This report is reviewed monthly as part of contract meetings.
The distinction is useful: while ongoing herbicide use is monitored through regular operational reporting, the council did not identify a formal review of the overall approach itself.
Documents Provided
The council’s LGOIMA response incorporated extracts from its contract Scope Specifications and Outcomes schedule relating to vegetative control.
The supplied material covered:
- chemical weed control;
- noxious plant control;
- non-chemical weed control;
- chemical edging;
- Growsafe requirements;
- public notification;
- the No-Spray Register;
- restrictions applying to playgrounds and other public areas;
- aquatic-area requirements;
- chemical selection and application;
- contractor reporting; and
- noxious plant reporting and treatment programmes.
No standalone herbicide policy or Standard Operating Procedure was supplied.
Observations
Masterton District Council’s response provides detailed information about how herbicide and weed-control work is managed operationally, including both where products are used and the contractual controls applying to their use.
Of particular note is the level of location-specific direction within the contract specifications. Playground weeds are to be controlled by hand rather than chemically, cemetery plots are subject to the same hand-pulling requirement, and chemical edging is prohibited around playgrounds.
The specifications also restrict chemical control at campgrounds, picnic areas and beach areas during school holidays, weekends and the peak visitor period from 1 December to 28 February, unless approved by the council. They also require the council’s No-Spray Register to be reviewed before spraying.
The response further distinguishes between formal review and routine operational oversight. Although the council could not locate evidence of a formal review of its overall herbicide approach, chemical usage is tracked over a rolling 24-month period and discussed through monthly contract meetings, with six-monthly reporting of products and volumes also required from the contractor.
Why This Matters
Councils manage a wide range of public spaces on behalf of their communities. Understanding what products are being used, where they are applied, and how decisions are made helps contribute to greater transparency around weed management in public areas.
The Council Transparency Project aims to build a nationwide public record of herbicide management practices across New Zealand local authorities so residents can better understand what is happening in their own communities.
Information Request Details
| Item | Details |
|---|---|
| LGOIMA Reference | Not stated in the information supplied |
| Request Submitted | 5 May 2026 |
| Response Received | 20 May 2026 |
| Information Current | As supplied under LGOIMA on 20 May 2026 |
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