When someone is accidentally exposed to a toxic weedkiller, you’d think our health system would want to know about it.
Especially if that chemical is glyphosate — one of the most widely used herbicides in the country. But a recent Official Information Act response confirms the opposite: New Zealand’s health system has no way of tracking suspected glyphosate-related illnesses.
Health New Zealand | Te Whatu Ora has confirmed it does not collect or monitor data on illnesses caused by glyphosate-based herbicide exposure — even in hospital settings.
“We can identify the illness — but not what caused it.”
That quote, buried in a formal OIA response to NoMoreGlyphosate.nz, reveals a disturbing public health blind spot.
No Data, No Codes, No Cause
According to the response, hospitalisation records in New Zealand are coded using the International Statistical Classification of Diseases and Related Health Problems (ICD-10-AM). This system tracks symptoms or diagnosed conditions — but not the cause of those conditions.
So if a person is hospitalised with respiratory distress after glyphosate spraying, or a worker becomes ill following long-term exposure, their illness might be recorded — but the suspected glyphosate link isn’t.
The only way to find out would be to manually review individual patient files, which Health NZ says is not feasible without a specific reason or complaint.
Instead, they pointed us to a general data set showing hospital discharges with the external cause code:
“Accidental poisoning by and exposure to pesticides” (ICD-10-AM code X48)
Here’s what they provided:
Hospital Discharges — Accidental Pesticide Exposure (ICD-10-AM-VIII code X48)
Publicly funded hospital discharges over the past three years:
| Reporting Year | Number of Discharges |
|---|---|
| 2021/2022 | 27 |
| 2022/2023 | 30 |
| 2023/2024 | 23 |
Source: National Minimum Dataset (NMDS)
This figure includes all pesticide-related poisonings — not just herbicides, and not specifically glyphosate. The ICD-10-AM-VIII code X48 covers “Accidental poisoning by and exposure to pesticides,” including insecticides, fungicides, and fumigants.
What This Means for Public Health
This might come as a shock to those who believe our health system is closely monitoring the effects of widely used chemicals like glyphosate. The reality is that no such surveillance system exists.
If a clinician suspects pesticide-related illness, there’s no consistent mechanism for reporting it. No central database. No routine alerts. No mandated data sharing across agencies like MPI, the EPA, or WorkSafe.
In fact, when asked whether Te Whatu Ora had participated in any inter-agency discussions on glyphosate exposure, their answer was simple: No.
US A Better Model: California’s Pesticide Illness Surveillance Program
Some countries do this better. In California, for example, pesticide-related illnesses are tracked and investigated through a formal system involving public health, environmental agencies, and workplace safety regulators.
Doctors are required to report suspected pesticide poisoning, and the data is publicly available — helping researchers, regulators, and citizens spot patterns early.
New Zealand has no equivalent.
Why This Matters Now
Government agencies continue to insist that glyphosate is “safe when used as directed.” But what does “safe” really mean if we’re not measuring the impact of exposure?
Without proper monitoring, we’re flying blind. We have no way of knowing how many workers, residents, or children may have suffered effects after spray events. No way to track long-term exposure patterns. No way to link illness to exposure — even when suspicion is strong.
As we wrote previously:
Auckland Council Glyphosate Exposure Warning
Glyphosate Urine Testing in NZ — Why It’s So Hard to Get Answers
If glyphosate exposure isn’t being tracked in the health system, and isn’t being tested for in our urine, how exactly are we supposed to prove harm?
Final Thought
We’re told that glyphosate is safe — but that reassurance is built on a void.
You can’t find what you’re not looking for.
Resources & References
ICD-10-AM External Cause Code X48: Accidental poisoning by and exposure to pesticides
This diagnostic classification code is used in hospital records to log pesticide poisoning — but it covers all pesticides (not just glyphosate) and doesn’t distinguish between products or exposure types.
California Pesticide Illness Surveillance Program
California operates one of the most robust pesticide illness monitoring programs in the world. Clinicians are required to report suspected pesticide-related illnesses, and the data helps identify patterns, risks, and regulatory gaps — a model worth studying.
National Minimum Dataset (NMDS) – Ministry of Health NZ
The NMDS is New Zealand’s hospital discharge database. It records what conditions people were treated for — but not necessarily what caused those conditions. It’s currently not equipped to track or flag pesticide-related illnesses with any specificity.
Auckland Council Glyphosate Exposure Warning
An official council document reveals multiple incidents of staff being splashed, sprayed, or soaked with glyphosate-based herbicides — and no formal medical follow-up. This article questions how many exposure events are quietly going unreported or unnoticed.
Glyphosate Urine Testing in NZ — Why It’s So Hard to Get Answers
Despite glyphosate’s widespread use, New Zealand lacks accessible testing options for individuals who suspect they’ve been exposed. This piece explores the current barriers — and why that matters for public health and accountability.
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