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 alternative approaches are being considered.
The goal of this project is to build a clearer picture of how herbicides are managed across New Zealand’s public spaces and to make that information more accessible to residents.
Dunedin City Council provided responses from both its Transport and Parks & Recreation teams, offering insight into how herbicides are used across roadsides, parks, reserves, footpaths, and other public areas throughout the city.
Quick Summary
| Topic | Response |
|---|---|
| Glyphosate-based herbicides used? | Yes |
| Other herbicides used? | Yes |
| Product list supplied? | Partial |
| Herbicide policy referenced? | Yes |
| Application locations identified? | Yes |
| Application frequency explained? | Yes |
| Public notification mentioned? | Yes |
| Opt-out option mentioned? | No |
| Last review clearly identified? | Yes |
| Supporting documents supplied? | Yes |
What We Learned
Dunedin City Council confirmed that glyphosate-based herbicides remain part of its weed management programme. The council advised that contractors use a range of products including glyphosate formulations such as Roundup, WeedMaster, Orion, and other glyphosate products supplied by Nufarm, along with picloram-based products including Tordon and Vigilant. Benzalkonium chloride is also used for moss and lichen control.
The council provided separate responses from its Transport and Parks & Recreation teams, reflecting the different responsibilities of each area. Together, the responses provide an overview of how herbicides are used across roadsides, footpaths, berms, parks, reserves, garden beds, and other public spaces throughout Dunedin.
The council also outlined operational controls relating to weather conditions, public safety, environmental considerations, signage, and applicator qualifications. In addition, the response identified circumstances where manual or mechanical weed control methods may be used as alternatives to herbicide application.
Where Herbicides Are Used
According to the council’s response, herbicides are used in:
- Road shoulders and road corridors
- Kerb and channel areas
- Footpaths and berms
- Lawn edges and around buildings
- Unlined surface water channels (subject to restrictions)
- Parks and reserves
- Amenity turf edges
- Garden beds
- Paths and driveways
- Planting site preparation areas
- Noxious weed control areas
Products Identified
Herbicides and Weed-Control Products
| Product | Active Ingredient(s) |
|---|---|
| Roundup | Glyphosate* |
| WeedMaster | Glyphosate* |
| Orion | Glyphosate* |
| Nufarm glyphosate products (examples not specified) | Glyphosate* |
| Tordon | Picloram* |
| Vigilant | Picloram* |
| Vigilant Gel | Picloram* |
| Moss and lichen control products | Benzalkonium chloride* |
Note: Dunedin City Council did not provide a comprehensive product inventory. The products listed above were identified within the Transport response as examples of herbicides currently used by council contractors.
*Active ingredients have been identified based on the council’s response and/or publicly available product information.
Application Frequency
The council advised that roadside spraying is generally undertaken only a couple of times per year on individual roads, depending on vegetation growth, weather conditions, and available budgets. Areas where no significant weed growth is present may not be sprayed at all.
Within Parks & Recreation areas, most contracted herbicide applications are undertaken on a two-month cycle. Additional spraying may occur when weed or moss growth reaches levels requiring treatment.
Policies, Standards and Oversight
The council advised that herbicide use is governed through contract specifications, operational guidelines, national regulations, industry standards, and site-specific risk assessment procedures.
The Parks & Recreation response noted that all applicators hold Growsafe or higher qualifications and are trained in the relevant policies and guidelines governing agrichemical use.
The council advised that a range of factors are assessed before spraying occurs, including weather conditions, wind speed, site characteristics, public usage patterns, environmental sensitivities, waterways, and no-spray areas. Spraying is generally only undertaken when suitable drying conditions exist and no imminent rainfall is forecast.
Public Notification and Safety Measures
Dunedin City Council indicated that public notification primarily occurs while spraying activities are being undertaken.
Contractor vehicles display spraying signage while work is in progress, and Parks & Recreation staff advised that “Spraying in Progress” signs are placed on site where applications are occurring. The council also stated that staff engage directly with members of the public when spraying is about to take place.
The council advised that spraying must stop when pedestrians, cyclists, animals, or other members of the public are present and may only resume once the area is clear.
One of the more specific restrictions identified in the response relates to schools and community facilities. The council advised that chemicals are not used within 500 metres of schools, play centres, kindergartens, or community centres for one hour before and one hour after those facilities are in use.
The council also noted that weather conditions may prevent spraying from proceeding when applications cannot be undertaken safely.
Review and Safety Considerations
The council advised that non-chemical methods are used in some circumstances. Manual or mechanical weed removal may be undertaken in selected locations, while Parks & Recreation also indicated that hand weeding and mechanical removal are considered when weed levels are relatively low and where such methods are economically viable.
However, the council acknowledged that chemical herbicides remain the primary method used for large-scale network and public-space weed management.
Dunedin City Council also confirmed that herbicide use has been formally reviewed in recent years. The Transport response advised that staff provided a report to elected members in December 2023 examining alternative weed-control methods. Following consideration of that report, the council resolved to continue the use of glyphosate as part of its weed management programme.
LGOIMA Process and Response Handling
The council supplied information without requiring clarification or narrowing of the request and did not indicate that any fees would apply.
Responses were provided separately by Transport and Parks & Recreation staff, offering additional operational detail about how herbicide use is managed across different council functions.
Documents Provided
Dunedin City Council supplied:
- A Transport response document covering roadside spraying practices, herbicide use, notification procedures, and the council’s 2023 review of alternative weed-control methods.
- A Parks & Recreation response document covering herbicide application practices, notification procedures, and alternative weed-control methods.
Observations
Dunedin City Council provided a relatively detailed response compared with many councils participating in the Council Herbicide Transparency Project.
The inclusion of information from both Transport and Parks & Recreation helps create a more complete picture of how herbicides are used across different public spaces. The response identified application locations, application frequencies, operational controls, notification practices, and a recent review of alternative weed-control methods.
The council also identified several operational controls relating to public safety, environmental considerations, weather conditions, and public access.
One area that remains less clear is how advance notification is handled. While onsite signage and direct engagement with members of the public were described, the response indicates there is no blanket notification requirement for planned spraying activities.
The council also identified a 500-metre restriction around schools, play centres, kindergartens, and community centres during specified periods of use. While the response did not provide further detail regarding how this requirement is implemented, it is one of the more specific separation measures identified in council responses received to date.
The response did not indicate whether residents can request alternative management approaches in specific locations or whether any formal spray-free options exist for adjoining properties or sensitive sites.
Why This Matters
Councils manage parks, reserves, roadsides, footpaths, 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 | Not Supplied |
| Request Submitted | 4 May 2026 |
| Response Received | 2 June 2026 |
Information current as supplied under LGOIMA on 2 June 2026.
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