Court action over dioxin ruled out

The Government has ruled out suing 2,4,5-T maker Ivon Watkins-Dow over dioxin contamination at New Plymouth.

The company, now called Dow AgroSciences, made the herbicide from the early 1960s until 1987 at its plant in the suburb of Paritutu.

Last September, a study commissioned by the Health Ministry showed the extent of exposure of residents next to the plant to dioxin, a byproduct of the pesticide's manufacture.

Associate Health Minister Pete Hodgson told Parliament yesterday the Government had advice that suing the company would almost certainly fail.