It’s hard to believe that NoMoreGlyphosate.nz launched on May 1 2025 — six months ago.
What began as a small push to raise awareness about MPI’s proposal to increase glyphosate residue limits on food crops has grown into a powerful national effort.
None of us were campaigners, scientists, or policy experts. We had never written an OIA, emailed an MP, or challenged a government proposal before. Yet somehow, we found ourselves doing all three — over and over again. (We’ve honestly lost count of how many OIA requests we’ve sent!)
A Campaign Built from Scratch
In the early days we came out swinging — reaching out to schools, councils, early-childhood centres, and anyone who would listen. Our goal was simple: make glyphosate a household word.
Then came the testing.
We started with honey, then Weet-Bix, cereals, supermarket breads, and oats.
By our last count:
21 honey samples
6 Weet-Bix
6 cereals
5 supermarket breads
6 oat products (results pending)
Each test added another piece to a story New Zealanders were never meant to see — glyphosate residues in everyday foods, sometimes even above the legal limit. When that happened, we notified MPI with full transparency: product names, photos, and lab reports.
Their response? Silence.
The Win — and Why It’s Only the Beginning
Then came the news on Thursday (30 October): MPI decided not to increase glyphosate residue limits on key food crops (except dry peas).
Was our work a factor? We may never know for sure. What we do know is that public pressure works — and this was a collective effort.
Established organisations, grassroots advocates, scientists, beekeepers, growers, and thousands of ordinary New Zealanders all played a part.
One of the most visible signs of that public concern came through Jade Steel’s petition, which gathered 33,282 signatures and was formally presented to Parliament by Steve Abel of the Green Party on 19 August 2025.
Together, these combined voices made it impossible for this issue to stay hidden.
This outcome belongs to everyone who spoke up, submitted feedback, shared a post, or simply paid attention. It’s proof that persistence matters — and it shows that when enough people push, things start to shift.
What Comes Next
Our focus now turns to the next stage:
Human testing: We’ll be advocating for blood, urine, and breast-milk testing here in New Zealand — because what’s found in food eventually finds its way into people.
Enforcement: If a legal limit exists, it should actually mean something. A law unenforced is a law ignored.
Education and Labelling: Glyphosate-based weedkillers are not safe for human consumption at any level. It’s time for real warning labels and clear point-of-sale alerts — just as we expect for any other hazardous substance.
By the Numbers
Over six months we’ve grown to:
3,300+ followers on X (formerly Twitter)
1,650 on Facebook
and a similar number of subscribers on our mailing list.
196 articles published on NoMoreGlyphosate.nz — each one helping inform, connect, and mobilise our growing community.
That’s thousands of Kiwis now questioning what’s in their food — and no longer accepting “it’s within the law” as a good enough answer.
Where This Leaves Us
We’ve learned more than we ever imagined — about regulation, bureaucracy, and perseverance. We’ve discovered that the system protects the status quo far more efficiently than it protects people. But we’ve also learned that ordinary citizens can make extraordinary change — one test, one email, and one conversation at a time.
Thank you for standing with us these past six months.
Together, we’ve shown that persistence matters — and the next six months will matter even more.
If you like what we do, how about a small donation toward the next round of testing — or simply as a way to show your appreciation for the work we’ve poured into this campaign? Every dollar helps fund more independent testing, more data, and more public awareness.
Every cent goes straight back into the next round of testing.
Closing Note:
Six months down, and we’re only getting started. Thank you for being part of this movement for transparency, accountability, and safer food for New Zealand.
Resources & References
MPI Media Release (30 Oct 2025): Residue levels for glyphosate remain unchanged for most crops
Jade Steel Petition: Presented to Parliament 19 Aug 2025 with 33,282 signatures
NoMoreGlyphosate Testing Results: Honey Testing | Weet-Bix Results | Cereals | Bread Testing
About NoMoreGlyphosate.nz
NoMoreGlyphosate.nz operates independently and has no formal or informal affiliations with any other organisation. We’re proud to collaborate publicly when goals align, but all of our work, publishing, and communications are self-directed.
Our food testing programme is community-funded — powered by the generosity of everyday New Zealanders who believe in transparency, accountability, and the right to know what’s in our food. Every donation helps keep the testing independent and the results public.
Image Source & Attribution
We’re grateful to the talented photographers and designers whose work enhances our content. The feature image on this page is by Scott Warman. You can find more of their work here: https://unsplash.com/@scottiewarman.
