As there was an increase in the birth defects in the New Plymouth area in the 60s and 70s, a report from the Ministry of Health ahs said that it was not a result from the exposure of Dioxin.

It is to be mentioned here that the report further mentioned the fact that the herbicide which had Dioxin was used extensively to control gorse was manufactured in the New Plymouth during the period of 1962 to 1987.

The report also said that there has been a concern over the health effects in the community for long now which also includes the birth defects but dioxin has nothing to do with the increase in the same.

It may be noted here that the report compared the birth defect data that was compiled by a midwife at Westown Maternity Hospital in New Plymouth between the periods of 1965-71 and has compared it to the reports that were published at that time at the hospitals nationwide.

The report found that the as there as was a high birth defect during that time in other parts of the country as well which is not different from the level of New Plymouth.