Mayor should ban, not review, toxic spray use

Auckland Mayor Len Brown needs to implement the city’s weed management policy to end the use of toxic glyphosate-based herbicides on streets, parks and playgrounds, not review it, the Green Party said today.

The Mayor announced the review after more than 3500 people signed a petition calling for the Council to stop using glyphosate sprays. The World Health Organisation (WHO) has categorised glyphosate as being “probably carcinogenic” to humans.

“Auckland Council’s use of glyphosate-based herbicides like Round Up doesn’t need to be reviewed – glyphosate needs to be dumped altogether,” said Green Party pesticides spokesperson Steffan Browning.

“At a time when many of the world’s cities and towns, including Christchurch, are ending the use of toxic sprays in public spaces, Auckland Council is lagging behind.

“The Auckland Weed Management Policy already clearly states that using the least toxic means of vegetation control is the always the best option.

“The Mayor’s review won’t be worth the paper it’s written on unless it recommends the city goes completely toxic spray-free.

“The streets and parks that a million Aucklanders lived in were glyphosate-free until the Council chose just a few years ago to start spraying with Roundup-type sprays.

“Often without communities’ knowledge, the Auckland 'Super City' council has introduced toxic weed-killing toxic tools where effective, non-toxic alternatives have long been used by previous councils.

“This is a local-body election issue for many people, and they will want to know what their representatives are going to do to rid their streets of toxic sprays well before voting papers are sent out,” said Mr Browning.

ENDS

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