Printed from https://fyi.org.nz/request/33487-official-information-act-request-epa-guidance-on-glyphosate-use-near-waterways on February 23, 2026 12:52

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Official Information Act request – EPA guidance on glyphosate use near waterways

david made this Official Information request to Environmental Protection Authority

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From: david

Dear Environmental Protection Authority,

I am making this request under the Official Information Act 1982.
Background (for context)
I recently raised concerns with Greater Wellington Regional Council (GWRC) after observing a significant amount of glyphosate-based herbicide being sprayed directly into a stream adjacent to my property. A subsequent Official Information Act response from Kāpiti Coast District Council confirmed that the product used was Weed Weapon Glyphosate 510.
GWRC investigated the matter and advised that no enforcement action would be taken, in part because EPA rules were said to permit glyphosate use “around streams” and that there was a lack of clarity in EPA guidance regarding spraying near waterways. GWRC also indicated that this lack of clarity limited their ability to take enforcement action.
Given this, I am seeking clarity directly from the Environmental Protection Authority regarding the guidance it provides to regional councils and territorial authorities on this matter.
________________________________________
Information requested
Please provide the following information:
1. EPA guidance to councils
o Copies of any written guidance, advice, circulars, or interpretations issued by the EPA to regional councils or territorial authorities regarding the use of glyphosate-based herbicides:
 in or near waterways,
 on land where spray may enter water via runoff or direct application.
2. Interpretation of product label instructions
o EPA’s interpretation of manufacturer label and Safety Data Sheet instructions for approved glyphosate products (including Weed Weapon Glyphosate 510), specifically where those instructions state:
 “Do not apply directly to water,” and/or
 “Avoid contamination of waterways” or similar wording.
o How EPA expects councils and enforcement agencies to reconcile these instructions with permitted activity rules under regional plans.
3. Buffer distances
o Whether EPA has issued, endorsed, or relied upon any recommended buffer distances (e.g. distance from waterways) for glyphosate application, either formally or informally.
o If no buffer distances are specified, the rationale for this and how risks to aquatic environments are intended to be managed in practice.
4. Enforcement expectations
o What EPA expects regional councils to do where glyphosate is observed entering waterways, either directly or indirectly.
o Whether EPA considers spraying glyphosate directly into water to be:
 prohibited,
 permitted,
 or dependent on conditions or consents.
5. Communication with GWRC
o Copies of any correspondence, guidance, or advice provided by EPA to Greater Wellington Regional Council relating to glyphosate use near waterways, including any discussions about regulatory ambiguity or enforcement thresholds.
6. Regulatory clarity
o Whether EPA acknowledges that current guidance may be unclear or inconsistently interpreted by councils.
o If so, whether EPA intends to issue clearer or updated national guidance to ensure consistent environmental protection.
________________________________________
Purpose of request
This request is made in good faith to understand how EPA guidance is intended to operate in practice, particularly where regional councils have indicated uncertainty about enforcement due to perceived ambiguity in EPA rules.
I am not seeking personal remedies, but clarity on national expectations to ensure waterways are appropriately protected and regulatory responsibilities are clearly understood.

Yours faithfully,

David

Link to this

From: Ministerials
Environmental Protection Authority

Attachment Outlook The EPA.png
17K Download

Kia ora David
Thanks for your request below. This has been logged as an Official
Information Act (OIA) request. 
Under the OIA, the EPA has 20 working days to make a decision on your
request. We will respond as quickly as possible.
Ngā mihi
Anna

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This email message and any attachment(s) are intended for the addressee(s)
only.

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--------------------------------------------------------------------------

From: david <[FOI #33487 email]>
Sent: Monday, 12 January 2026 12:20 pm
To: Ministerials <[EPA request email]>
Subject: Official Information request - Official Information Act request –
EPA guidance on glyphosate use near waterways
 
[You don't often get email from
[FOI #33487 email]. Learn why this is
important at [5]https://aka.ms/LearnAboutSenderIdentific...

Dear Environmental Protection Authority,

I am making this request under the Official Information Act 1982.
Background (for context)
I recently raised concerns with Greater Wellington Regional Council (GWRC)
after observing a significant amount of glyphosate-based herbicide being
sprayed directly into a stream adjacent to my property. A subsequent
Official Information Act response from Kāpiti Coast District Council
confirmed that the product used was Weed Weapon Glyphosate 510.
GWRC investigated the matter and advised that no enforcement action would
be taken, in part because EPA rules were said to permit glyphosate use
“around streams” and that there was a lack of clarity in EPA guidance
regarding spraying near waterways. GWRC also indicated that this lack of
clarity limited their ability to take enforcement action.
Given this, I am seeking clarity directly from the Environmental
Protection Authority regarding the guidance it provides to regional
councils and territorial authorities on this matter.
________________________________________
Information requested
Please provide the following information:
1.      EPA guidance to councils
o       Copies of any written guidance, advice, circulars, or
interpretations issued by the EPA to regional councils or territorial
authorities regarding the use of glyphosate-based herbicides:
       in or near waterways,
       on land where spray may enter water via runoff or direct
application.
2.      Interpretation of product label instructions
o       EPA’s interpretation of manufacturer label and Safety Data Sheet
instructions for approved glyphosate products (including Weed Weapon
Glyphosate 510), specifically where those instructions state:
       “Do not apply directly to water,” and/or
       “Avoid contamination of waterways” or similar wording.
o       How EPA expects councils and enforcement agencies to reconcile
these instructions with permitted activity rules under regional plans.
3.      Buffer distances
o       Whether EPA has issued, endorsed, or relied upon any recommended
buffer distances (e.g. distance from waterways) for glyphosate
application, either formally or informally.
o       If no buffer distances are specified, the rationale for this and
how risks to aquatic environments are intended to be managed in practice.
4.      Enforcement expectations
o       What EPA expects regional councils to do where glyphosate is
observed entering waterways, either directly or indirectly.
o       Whether EPA considers spraying glyphosate directly into water to
be:
       prohibited,
       permitted,
       or dependent on conditions or consents.
5.      Communication with GWRC
o       Copies of any correspondence, guidance, or advice provided by EPA
to Greater Wellington Regional Council relating to glyphosate use near
waterways, including any discussions about regulatory ambiguity or
enforcement thresholds.
6.      Regulatory clarity
o       Whether EPA acknowledges that current guidance may be unclear or
inconsistently interpreted by councils.
o       If so, whether EPA intends to issue clearer or updated national
guidance to ensure consistent environmental protection.
________________________________________
Purpose of request
This request is made in good faith to understand how EPA guidance is
intended to operate in practice, particularly where regional councils have
indicated uncertainty about enforcement due to perceived ambiguity in EPA
rules.
I am not seeking personal remedies, but clarity on national expectations
to ensure waterways are appropriately protected and regulatory
responsibilities are clearly understood.

Yours faithfully,

David

-------------------------------------------------------------------

This is an Official Information request made via the FYI website.

Please use this email address for all replies to this request:
[FOI #33487 email]

Is [EPA request email] the wrong address for Official Information
requests to Environmental Protection Authority? If so, please contact us
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If you find this service useful as an Official Information officer, please
ask your web manager to link to us from your organisation's OIA or LGOIMA
page.

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Link to this

From: Ministerials
Environmental Protection Authority

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Attachment OIA response 26004 David.pdf
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Attachment Appendix 1 David OIA26004 Documents redacted.pdf
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Tēnā koe David, 
Please find attached a response to your request for information. 
Ngā mihi, 
Jessie 

Jessie Wood  (she/her)

Official Correspondence Advisor 

I work Monday, Tuesday and Thursday. 

 [1]The EPA's logo in a dark teal colour.

Follow us on [2]Facebook, [3]Instagram, and [4]LinkedIn. 

Our New Zealand Business Number is 9429041901977.

This email message and any attachment(s) are intended for the addressee(s)
only.

If you receive this message in error, please notify the sender and delete
the message and any attachment(s).

The EPA supports flexible working. You might receive an email from me
outside your usual working hours. Please respond at a time that works for
you.

--------------------------------------------------------------------------

From: david <[FOI #33487 email]>
Sent: Monday, January 12, 2026 12:20 PM
To: Ministerials <[EPA request email]>
Subject: Official Information request - Official Information Act request –
EPA guidance on glyphosate use near waterways
 
[You don't often get email from
[FOI #33487 email]. Learn why this is
important at [5]https://aka.ms/LearnAboutSenderIdentific...

Dear Environmental Protection Authority,

I am making this request under the Official Information Act 1982.
Background (for context)
I recently raised concerns with Greater Wellington Regional Council (GWRC)
after observing a significant amount of glyphosate-based herbicide being
sprayed directly into a stream adjacent to my property. A subsequent
Official Information Act response from Kāpiti Coast District Council
confirmed that the product used was Weed Weapon Glyphosate 510.
GWRC investigated the matter and advised that no enforcement action would
be taken, in part because EPA rules were said to permit glyphosate use
“around streams” and that there was a lack of clarity in EPA guidance
regarding spraying near waterways. GWRC also indicated that this lack of
clarity limited their ability to take enforcement action.
Given this, I am seeking clarity directly from the Environmental
Protection Authority regarding the guidance it provides to regional
councils and territorial authorities on this matter.
________________________________________
Information requested
Please provide the following information:
1.      EPA guidance to councils
o       Copies of any written guidance, advice, circulars, or
interpretations issued by the EPA to regional councils or territorial
authorities regarding the use of glyphosate-based herbicides:
       in or near waterways,
       on land where spray may enter water via runoff or direct
application.
2.      Interpretation of product label instructions
o       EPA’s interpretation of manufacturer label and Safety Data Sheet
instructions for approved glyphosate products (including Weed Weapon
Glyphosate 510), specifically where those instructions state:
       “Do not apply directly to water,” and/or
       “Avoid contamination of waterways” or similar wording.
o       How EPA expects councils and enforcement agencies to reconcile
these instructions with permitted activity rules under regional plans.
3.      Buffer distances
o       Whether EPA has issued, endorsed, or relied upon any recommended
buffer distances (e.g. distance from waterways) for glyphosate
application, either formally or informally.
o       If no buffer distances are specified, the rationale for this and
how risks to aquatic environments are intended to be managed in practice.
4.      Enforcement expectations
o       What EPA expects regional councils to do where glyphosate is
observed entering waterways, either directly or indirectly.
o       Whether EPA considers spraying glyphosate directly into water to
be:
       prohibited,
       permitted,
       or dependent on conditions or consents.
5.      Communication with GWRC
o       Copies of any correspondence, guidance, or advice provided by EPA
to Greater Wellington Regional Council relating to glyphosate use near
waterways, including any discussions about regulatory ambiguity or
enforcement thresholds.
6.      Regulatory clarity
o       Whether EPA acknowledges that current guidance may be unclear or
inconsistently interpreted by councils.
o       If so, whether EPA intends to issue clearer or updated national
guidance to ensure consistent environmental protection.
________________________________________
Purpose of request
This request is made in good faith to understand how EPA guidance is
intended to operate in practice, particularly where regional councils have
indicated uncertainty about enforcement due to perceived ambiguity in EPA
rules.
I am not seeking personal remedies, but clarity on national expectations
to ensure waterways are appropriately protected and regulatory
responsibilities are clearly understood.

Yours faithfully,

David

-------------------------------------------------------------------

This is an Official Information request made via the FYI website.

Please use this email address for all replies to this request:
[FOI #33487 email]

Is [EPA request email] the wrong address for Official Information
requests to Environmental Protection Authority? If so, please contact us
using this form:
[6]https://aus01.safelinks.protection.outlo...

Disclaimer: This message and any reply that you make will be published on
the internet. Our privacy and copyright policies:
[7]https://aus01.safelinks.protection.outlo...

If you find this service useful as an Official Information officer, please
ask your web manager to link to us from your organisation's OIA or LGOIMA
page.

-------------------------------------------------------------------

References

Visible links
1. http://www.epa.govt.nz/
2. Original URL: https://www.facebook.com/EPAgovtNZ/. Click or tap if you trust this link.
https://www.facebook.com/EPAgovtNZ/
3. Original URL: https://www.instagram.com/epagovtnz/. Click or tap if you trust this link.
https://www.instagram.com/epagovtnz/
4. Original URL: https://www.linkedin.com/company/epagovt.... Click or tap if you trust this link.
https://www.linkedin.com/company/epagovt...
5. https://aka.ms/LearnAboutSenderIdentific...
6. https://fyi.org.nz/change_request/new?bo...
7. https://fyi.org.nz/help/officers

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