New Plymouth is re-evaluating its use of the herbicide Roundup which has been identified as a possible carcinogen by the World Health Organisation.
Herbicide being used in a garden (file photo) Photo: 123RF
Environmentalist Stuart Bramhall presented the council with a petition calling for it to stop spraying the herbicide on berms and in parks in New Plymouth.
Dr Bramhall said the active ingredient, glyphosate, has been linked to disorders including infertility and digestive illnesses.
"The World Health Organisation has declared it a probably carcinogen and this is why a lot of European countries are banning Roundup altogether," she said.
She said a viable alternative as a spray would be hot soapy water.
In response to the petition, the council's policy committee this week asked for a report into its use of herbicides.
The Green Party is also calling for the Environmental Protection Agency to carry out an objective assessment on glyphosate based herbicides.