PHF Science’s Response to Your OIA Request – Roadside Drug testing

To: John McCarthy, Interim General Manager Health Security, PHF Science
Date: 23 October 2026
From: We Review the Crown
Subject: Official Information Act request — scientific verification of wastewater contamination and potential food-chain exposure

Dear Mr McCarthy,

We refer to your response dated 23 October 2026.

Your response raises serious questions about the extent of scientific investigation undertaken into pharmaceutical substances, hormones, endocrine-active compounds and vaccine-derived biological materials entering wastewater systems.

Of particular concern are your statements that PHF Science has not undertaken research into the persistence, removal or inactivation of vaccine materials in sewerage systems or downstream environmental samples, and is unaware of relevant environmental risk assessments.

These statements require further examination because wastewater, treated effluent and biosolids may create potential pathways for environmental and agricultural exposure.

We require substantive, evidence-based answers to the following questions.

Food-chain exposure: What research has PHF Science undertaken or holds concerning the transfer of pharmaceutical residues, endocrine-active substances or vaccine-derived materials from wastewater or biosolids into agricultural soils, crops, livestock, animal products or food?

Contamination testing: Identify any relevant testing of irrigation water, agricultural soils, pasture, vegetables, fruit, milk, meat, seafood and other food products. Provide the results, including substances measured, detection limits, sampling locations and dates.

Environmental persistence: Identify the scientific evidence concerning the survival, degradation, transformation or accumulation of these substances in wastewater, biosolids, soils and receiving waters.

Human exposure: Identify any assessments of exposure through drinking water, food consumption or agricultural production, including any evaluation of vulnerable populations.

Scientific validation: For the seven reported Sabin-like poliovirus detections, provide the underlying laboratory records, analytical methodologies, quality controls and confirmatory findings, subject to any lawful withholding requirements.

Regulatory responsibility: Identify which public authorities are responsible for monitoring these potential contamination pathways, setting acceptable exposure limits, assessing food safety and taking remedial action.

Safety claims: Identify any assessment relied upon by PHF Science concerning the environmental safety of vaccine-derived biological materials. Distinguish between established findings, assumptions, untested pathways and matters outside PHF Science’s remit.

Records and disclosure: Confirm the searches undertaken for responsive information, identify the categories of records searched and specify any statutory grounds relied upon to refuse or withhold information.

Interagency information: Identify relevant information held by or transferred to the Ministry for Primary Industries, New Zealand Food Safety, Ministry for the Environment, Environmental Protection Authority, Ministry of Health, regional councils or other competent authorities.

Food security: Identify any scientific assessment of whether these substances may affect agricultural productivity, livestock health, soil quality, water quality or the safety of food produced in New Zealand.

We do not accept that the absence of testing constitutes evidence of the absence of contamination. Equally, we recognise that the absence of testing does not itself establish contamination or harm.

Our concern is that public assurances must be supported by evidence appropriate to the specific exposure pathway and risk being assessed.

Please distinguish clearly between information PHF Science holds, information it does not hold, work it has not undertaken, and information that may be held by another public agency.

Where another agency is more likely to hold requested information, please address the transfer requirements under section 14 of the Official Information Act 1982.

We request a substantive response, supported by identifiable scientific records and the applicable statutory authority for any refusal.

Yours faithfully,

We Review the Crown
[email protected]