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 reviewed in recent years.
The purpose of this project is to help communities better understand how herbicides are managed in shared public spaces and how readily information about those practices is made available to the public.
Tauranga City Council provided policy documents, notification information, clarification responses, and operational agrichemical-use records covering the period from 2020 to 2025.
Quick Summary
| Topic | Response |
|---|---|
| Glyphosate-based herbicides used? | Yes |
| Other herbicides used? | Yes |
| Product list supplied? | Yes |
| Herbicide policy referenced? | Yes |
| Application records supplied? | Yes |
| Public notification process identified? | Yes |
| Spray-free register available? | Yes |
| Policy review identified? | Yes |
| Supporting documents supplied? | Yes |
| Follow-up questions answered? | Yes |
What We Learned
Tauranga City Council directed us to its Use of Toxic Agrichemicals for Vegetation Management Policy, originally adopted in 2008 and most recently amended in 2023. The policy states that its primary objective is to protect public health while also seeking to protect the wider environment and provide effective vegetation management on council-maintained land.
The policy acknowledges that some toxic agrichemicals can adversely affect people and may impact the wider environment. It also states that council’s preference is to use non-chemical vegetation management methods wherever practical and that council will proactively seek to reduce the use of toxic agrichemicals on council-maintained land.
Council’s policy states that applications of toxic agrichemicals on council-maintained land will comply with NZS 8409 Management of Agrichemicals (or subsequent updates). The policy also provides for public notification of intended spraying activities through the council’s website.
The policy also requires signage following applications and provides for a spray-free register that allows residents to request notification of spraying activities occurring near their properties.
One of the more useful clarifications provided by Tauranga City Council related to Schedule 1 of the policy. While the schedule contains a substantial list of approved products, council confirmed that it should not be interpreted as a list of products currently used in day-to-day operations. Instead, it represents products that are permitted for use where required.
What The Operational Records Show
Following a request for further information, Tauranga City Council supplied agrichemical-use records covering the years 2020 through 2025. The dataset contains approximately 10,000 application records and provides considerably more operational detail than many councils have supplied as part of this project.
The records show that actual agrichemical use is concentrated within a relatively small group of products. Roundup was the most frequently recorded product, appearing in approximately 3,630 application records. Other commonly recorded products included Grazon, Gallant, Pulse Penetrant, Escort, Versatil, and Tordon Brushkiller.
The majority of applications were recorded under the category “Herbicide – Noxious Weeds”, with smaller numbers relating to hard surfaces, revegetation projects, gardens, turf management, and walkways.
The records also indicate that most applications were undertaken using targeted methods such as low-pressure knapsack spraying, stump swabbing, handguns, weed balls, and weed wands. Relatively few records involved boom application methods.
Roundup application records declined substantially after 2020 before increasing again in 2024. While this suggests some variation over time, the data does not show a simple year-on-year reduction in herbicide use. The spreadsheet also contains volume information, although it is not clear from the records alone whether those figures represent concentrate, diluted spray mix, or another operational measure. As a result, volume comparisons should be interpreted cautiously.
Coast Care and Dune Management
Tauranga City Council also provided information relating to Coast Care-managed areas around Mount Maunganui and Pāpāmoa.
Council advised that spraying undertaken within Coast Care sites forms part of wider dune maintenance operations and that agrichemical use is not separately recorded for Coast Care-managed areas. As a result, council indicated it is unable to isolate herbicide quantities used specifically within Coast Care sites from broader dune management activities.
The operational records supplied for this investigation similarly do not identify specific locations, meaning it is not currently possible to determine how much herbicide use relates specifically to dunes, beaches, reserves, road corridors, or other public spaces.
LGOIMA Process and Response Handling
The initial request was responded to without fees, transfers, or requests to narrow the scope of the information sought.
Following review of the supplied material, No More Glyphosate NZ submitted two follow-up clarification questions relating to the approved product list and annual reporting commitments contained within the policy.
Tauranga City Council formally acknowledged the request and subsequently confirmed that Schedule 1 represents approved products rather than a list of products currently in operational use. Council also supplied agrichemical-use records covering the years 2020–2025.
Compared with many responses received through this project, Tauranga City Council provided a substantial amount of supporting information that allows a more detailed examination of both policy and operational practice.
Documents and Information Provided
Tauranga City Council supplied or referenced the following information:
- Use of Toxic Agrichemicals for Vegetation Management Policy
- Agrichemical application schedules and notification information
- Clarification regarding approved versus operationally used products
- Agrichemical-use records covering 2020–2025
- Coast Care herbicide-use information
- Supporting policy and operational material
Observations and Outstanding Questions
The operational records supplied by Tauranga City Council provide a useful opportunity to examine how herbicide use aligns with the policy objective of proactively reducing toxic agrichemical use on council-maintained land.
While the data shows fluctuations in herbicide application activity over time, it does not currently provide enough information to determine whether overall agrichemical use is increasing or decreasing when measured by actual product quantities. Additional context regarding volume reporting would assist that assessment.
The policy also contains requirements relating to notification, signage, environmental protection, and compliance with NZS 8409 Management of Agrichemicals (or subsequent updates). However, the documents supplied do not explain the operational criteria used when making decisions about weather conditions such as wind speed, spray drift risk, or forecast rainfall. Further information in these areas may assist public understanding of how the policy is applied in practice.
Finally, while Coast Care and dune management activities were discussed in council correspondence, neither the policy documents nor the operational dataset allow herbicide use within those specific areas to be isolated from broader vegetation management activities.
Why This Matters
Public spaces are shared environments used by residents, visitors, sports clubs, community organisations, and local wildlife.
Regardless of where individuals stand on herbicide use, informed public discussion depends on access to accurate information. Policies explain what councils intend to do. Operational records help show how those policies are applied in practice.
One of the most notable aspects of Tauranga City Council’s response was the amount of information provided. By supplying policy documents, clarification responses, and six years of operational agrichemical-use records, council has enabled a more detailed examination of its vegetation management practices than is possible in many districts.
Projects like this are not about reaching predetermined conclusions. They are about improving transparency and helping communities better understand how public spaces are managed.
Information Request Details
| Item | Details |
|---|---|
| LGOIMA Reference | Not supplied |
| Request Submitted | 5 May 2026 |
| Response Received | 7 & 14 May 2026 |
Information current as supplied under LGOIMA on 14 May 2026.
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