Chemical Company Failed.

The New Zealand government and the Dow chemical company failed to warn New Zealanders of the dangers of the health effects on humans from Ivan Watkins Dow chemicals used as pasture and defoliant sprays used in the 50s 60s and 70s. Without divulging this information on the chemical risks on humans. The New Zealand government and Ivan Watkins Dow made the users and the human exposure more dangerous. Even though as far back as 1965 the Dow Chemical Co in the US called dioxin, a contaminant in their chemicals one of the most toxic materials known causing not only skin lesions, and also liver damage. At the Ivan Watkins Chemical Plant at Paritutu New Plymouth in the 60s tests and techniques were being used to drastically cut the amount of dioxin in the defoliant during manufacture. The waste wash from which was disposed of through open drains from the chemical plant down onto the local surf beach Paritutu back beach adjacent, and later through the cities sewer system out to sea. Ivan Watkins Dow now named Dow AgroSciences has to date not explained what happened to the dioxin residue extracted from these tests and techniques. Ivan Watkins Dow was at the time a New Zealand government contractor, giving them immunity from any prosecution or civil lawsuits against them.