Late last year, a grape grower in Grants Rd, Otiake, spotted a Waitaki District Council contractor spraying herbicide near the vineyards. The contractor told him it was glyphosate but that later a hormone-based herbicide spray, most commonly known as Tordon, would be used. This comes off the back of "significant spray damage from Tordon to a Waitaki vineyard" as a result of a neighbour using the herbicide, Mr Taylor said. It was his understanding the council could be liable for financial damages inflicted by the Tordon damage. Mr van der Spek said any damage caused by the agrichemicals would need to be investigated to determine who was responsible.

Source: Otago Daily Times February 03, 2026 16:02 UTC