Ian McLean Spokesperson for the Green Party

Tauranga City Council's agrichemical advisory forum has recently embarked on a programme of raising awareness with the new council about spray use in our environment; and the need for better implementation of the spray policy. You can support this initiative by submitting to the city council's 2014/2015 annual plan process.

Cancer rates are high in the Bay of Plenty, and not because of clean air and too much sun. I recently watched my neighbour spray along our shared fence-line, helped by his three-year-old boy, who walked behind, barefoot through the grass. Hopefully he won't contribute to those cancer statistics in 20 years.

Spray contractors regularly spray near your house; and your neighbour may be spraying along your shared fence as you read this. Of course, you may use the sprays yourself to control aphids on the roses or kikuyu spread along grassy edges.

At least kiwifruit growers and spray contractors are required to post signs about their activities. The port releases no information on its use of the highly-toxic fumigant methyl bromide, which is released directly to air after use. Nor is your neighbour required to warn you about spray use.

All of these chemicals are approved by New Zealand's Environmental Protection Authority, the government agency charged with protecting human and environmental health. Unfortunately, their approvals mostly use tests, tolerances and assurances given by manufacturers of the chemicals being approved; a suspect source at best.

But it is just copper. Or it is just glyphosate (often sold as Roundup). One can buy it at the supermarket, so it must be safe. The agrichemical advisory forum strongly recommends you properly research these chemicals before use, because none are truly safe.