‘Sprayed, splashed, and soaked’: Why glyphosate exposure incidents at Auckland Council should be a wake-up call

In the past two years alone, Auckland Council has investigated no fewer than six incidents in which its staff or contractors were doused, splashed, or sprayed with glyphosate-based weedkiller, says advocacy group NoMoreGlyphosate.nz.

“These events, revealed through an Official Information Act (OIA) request, might seem routine in the rough-and-tumble world of weed control — but they carry a hidden danger that should set alarm bells ringing.

“Around the world, workers with eerily similar exposures have developed non-Hodgkin lymphoma and other serious illnesses after repeated glyphosate contact. The stories of Dewayne “Lee” Johnson in the United States and Ludovic Maugé in France are grim reminders that today’s careless exposure could become tomorrow’s devastating diagnosis — and an expensive legal fight no council or contractor is ready for.

“Auckland Council’s use of glyphosate is well documented. In fact, we recently reported on the scale of their 2024 spraying programme, which you can revisit here for context.”

Six Glyphosate Incidents, One Clear Warning

“In response to our OIA request, Auckland Council confirmed that while no formal complaints, legal claims, or settlements have been lodged in the past 24 months, there have been six recorded investigations involving pesticide exposure — all relating to glyphosate-based products.

“Here’s what their response revealed:

• A knapsack leaked onto a contractor’s back while spraying glyphosate-containing liquid.
• A spill from a contractor’s vehicle onto the ground, partially contained, but with a small hole in the bunding box that allowed glyphosate to leak.
• An employee was splashed in the face and eye with diluted glyphosate liquid while detaching a hose from a knapsack.
• A knapsack leaked onto an employee’s back during spraying.
• Another knapsack leak affected a second employee’s back.
• A trailing knapsack wand discharged glyphosate-containing liquid into a contractor’s face and hair.

“Auckland Council confirmed that no external toxicological testing was offered after these incidents, no legal or employment disputes arose, and no compensation was paid. In other words: there is no robust tracking of what could be the first steps on a path to far more serious consequences.

“These are only the incidents that have been officially reported. It is likely that others have gone unreported or unrecorded, making the need for better protections even more urgent.”

Global Lessons: Lee Johnson and Ludovic Maugé

“These local incidents may sound like harmless workplace mishaps — a leaky knapsack, a splash in the eye — but they mirror the early exposures of workers overseas whose lives were later torn apart by cancer.

“Take Dewayne “Lee” Johnson, a California school groundskeeper. Johnson regularly used glyphosate-based weedkillers and repeatedly became soaked with them, even developing rashes and lesions. Eventually, he was diagnosed with non-Hodgkin lymphoma, a blood cancer linked by a jury to glyphosate exposure. In 2018, Johnson won a landmark case against Monsanto (later acquired by Bayer), resulting in an initial $289 million damages award, later reduced on appeal but still upheld as a finding against the weedkiller giant.

“Or consider Ludovic Maugé in France, whose story we covered here. Over years of repeated glyphosate spraying without adequate protection, he developed severe health problems, including cancer. His court battle for recognition and compensation has been long, painful, and slow — but his tragic experience underlines the danger of routine chemical exposures that no one takes seriously until it’s too late.”

Ludovic Maugé: A Cautionary Tale in His Own Words

“Ludovic Maugé’s story is far from unique — but few people have heard it. This short documentary clip offers a powerful glimpse into his experience and why it should concern anyone working with glyphosate-based weedkillers:

“It’s hard to watch stories like Ludovic’s without wondering whether the same heartbreak could one day unfold here in New Zealand. His case is a sobering reminder of what’s at stake if we keep ignoring the repeated glyphosate exposures happening right now.

Could This Happen Here?

“The disturbing pattern is hard to ignore. Auckland Council contractors have been splashed in the face, had glyphosate soak through their clothing and onto their backs, and even had it discharged into their hair. Yet there is no toxicological testing, no blood or urine monitoring, and no follow-up on possible long-term health impacts.

“In fact, even private testing for glyphosate in New Zealand faces barriers and delays, as we explored here.

“Non-Hodgkin lymphoma can develop years after repeated pesticide exposure, meaning today’s seemingly “minor” mishaps could become tomorrow’s cancer clusters. And while no legal claims have been filed yet, the global tide is shifting: more and more workers, supported by scientific evidence, are successfully holding employers and chemical manufacturers accountable for their illnesses.

“If Auckland Council and its contractors believe they are shielded from future consequences, they should think again. Under New Zealand’s Health and Safety at Work Act, employers and contractors have a duty of care to provide a safe, hazard-free workplace. Failing to take repeated pesticide exposures seriously could leave them vulnerable to employment disputes, personal grievances, or even prosecution if workers later develop illnesses linked to these incidents.

A Wake-Up Call for Weed Control

“Glyphosate-based weedkillers have been promoted as safe for decades, but the growing body of litigation and scientific studies says otherwise. Auckland Council — and any contractor working on public land — cannot afford to treat repeated exposures as trivial.

“There is a clear duty of care here:

• provide thorough training
• invest in higher-grade protective equipment
• monitor staff health over time
• offer toxicological testing after exposure events
• and strongly consider transitioning to safer weed control alternatives, such as hot foam or steam

Final Thought

“The stories of Lee Johnson and Ludovic Maugé were built on years of being told “it’s safe” — until one day, their lives changed forever. Auckland Council’s own records show workers are being splashed, soaked, and sprayed with glyphosate products right now.

“For council leaders and contractors, this is not just a matter of good practice — it is a legal, financial, and moral imperative. Fix the leaks, protect the people, and rethink the product. Before today’s “no big deal” becomes tomorrow’s million-dollar payout.”

For more information, visit NoMoreGlyphosate.nz.