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Spray drift

Agrichemicals are substances used in farming to manage pests, weeds, and plant diseases, often applied as sprays. However, factors like weather, landscape, and application methods can cause these sprays to drift away from their intended targets. This is known as spray drift.

Spray drift can impact your health, with the severity depending on factors such as the amount of drift, the chemical composition, and the concentration of the spray. If you have health concerns following spraying in your area, it's important to talk to your doctor or a health professional.

Rules

Under the Resource Management Act, Environment Southland is responsible for the control of spraying in the region. The Regional Air Plan sets out what you can and can not do.

You should be aware:

  • Health protection authorities are obliged to investigate reports from people who feel their health has been affected by spraydrift. Under the Health Act, poisoning arising from chemical contamination is a notifiable disease.
  • Under the Ministry of Primary Industries regulations spraydrift damage to other properties (mainly plant damage) could result in the initiation of criminal proceedings.
  • There are conditions to meet in order for spraying to be a permitted activity under the Regional Air Plan.
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