133 Molesworth Street
PO Box 5013
Wellington 6140
New Zealand
T+64 4 496 2000
22 July 2022
Christine Woods
By email: [FYI request #19821 email]
Ref: H2022006567
Tena koe Christine
Response to your request for official information
Thank you for your request under the Official Information Act 1982 (the Act) to Manatū Hauora
(Ministry of Health) on 4 July 2022 for information about herbicide use in Northland. Specifically:
“the number of complaints received regarding herbicide use in Northland for the past 15
years.”
The Ministry does not hold information relating to complaints regarding herbicide use in
Northland over the past 15 years. I have been advised that a similar request was also made to
Northland Regional Council (NRC). As such, a formal transfer under section 14 of the Act by the
Ministry was not deemed necessary. You can expect a response from NRC in due course.
The Ministry would only be informed if a person had health effects from exposure (i.e., notified
as a hazardous substances injury or as poisoning from chemical contamination of the
environment). This information is available here:
www.ehinz.ac.nz/indicators/hazardous-
substances/. Under section 28(3) of the Act, you have the right to ask the Ombudsman to review any
decisions made under this request. The Ombudsman may be contacted by email at:
[email address] or by calling 0800 802 602.
Nāku noa, nā
p.p.
Jan Torres
Acting Manager, OIA Services Government and Executive Services