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Protests by people opposed to the chemical weedkillers that are increasingly being used by Auckland Council contractors in parks and reserves shut down the Council’s May 13 meeting.
The protests followed an attempt by Councillors John Watson and Wayne Walker during an Annual Plan debate to restore the cuts made to Parks budgets that resulted in the increasing use of Glyphosate/Roundup instead of non-chemical methods of weed control.
The amendment that the councillors tried to put up was ruled out of order. Cr John Watson says the failure of the amendment means that the budget cuts and spraying remains and everyone opposed has had their views ignored.
One of the protestors, Hana Blackmore of the Weed Management Advisory, says that the group refused to leave until the councillors had heard what they had to say.
“We were finally escorted off the premises by security, but not before we obtained a promise from Mayor Len Brown that we would get “our day in court”, Mrs Blackmore says.
