LGOIMA Request Details: LG2451

I refer to your official information request dated 05/05/2026  

The information you have requested is below. 

1. What herbicide or weed control products are currently used in public spaces? Parks and Property Division ‘Roundup Ultra Max’ and ‘Conquest’ are used in public parks   and reserves.

Roading Division Chemical we use is Glyphosate 360 diluted to 10ml per litre of water.

2. Where are these products typically applied, and how frequently are these areas treated? Parks and Property Division, In parks and reserves, ‘Roundup Ultra Max’ is used in a targeted application method to control a variety of annual and perennial weeds in garden beds, fence lines and around trees etc and ‘Conquest’ is used to control broadleaf weeds in turf areas, throughout our district. Frequency of application is not specified; however broadleaf control is generally carried out in both spring and autumn.  

Roading Division  Frequency 3 times per annum urban and rural, application applied by knap sack- ATV- spray boom truck for rural.  

3. What policies or guidelines govern herbicide use in public spaces? Parks and Property Division the use of chemicals in parks and open spaces is an activity contained within Council’s Open Spaces Management contract. As part of the contract quality plan and work health and safety management plan, all chemicals must be handled, stored, and used following their Safety Data Sheet and follow the “Approved Code of Practice for Management of Substances Hazardous to Health in the Place of Work” in New Zealand. Standard operating procedures further detail how herbicides are handled and used.  Herbicide products are considered safe once dry (3 hours after application). Cautionary safety signage is used as appropriate by the operator.

Roading Division  Growsafe national best practice is to not spray in winds exceeding 20kph. Spraying will not be carried out in wind velocities exceeding 10kph, or when weather conditions indicate that rain or drizzle could follow within two to six hours from the time application. Properties not to be sprayed because of personal preference by the owner or occupier are marked by the owner as such. For these properties, the contractor is not to use chemical methods of weed control, subject to the owner/occupiers maintaining the berm to Council’s satisfaction and by marking the areas with approved markers or signs as stated in the MDC application ‘NO SPRAY’ form. Link To Form Application For No Sray Zone

4. When was the current approach to herbicide use in public spaces last formally reviewed? There has been no formal review of approach to the use of herbicides in public spaces. The current established procedures for chemical application meet industry standards for safe use and are consistent with the approach of other Territorial Authorities across New Zealand.

Manawatū District Council may publish this response along with a summary of the request on our website.   Requests and responses may be paraphrased.    

To protect your privacy, we will not generally publish personal information about you, or information that identifies you.   

If you wish to discuss this response with us, please feel free to contact the LGOIMA Response Team on 06 323 0000 or by replying to this email.