Asbestos Sand Scare Closes Schools Across NZ

Fears of asbestos-contaminated sand have forced at least eight schools to close today, as a widening product recall continued to grow over the weekend. Reported by 1News.

The recall expanded on Saturday when several Kmart products were added to an increasing list of coloured sand brands that tested positive for asbestos.

According to the Ministry of Education, by 2pm on Sunday around 150 schools and 90 early learning centres had contacted officials seeking urgent advice.

WorkSafe said inspectors were visiting 150 affected customers today to understand the scale of the issue, with priority given to “sensitive purchasers” such as hospitals, libraries, and youth organisations.

Multiple Canterbury Schools Shut as Precaution

Several Canterbury-region schools confirmed closures today “out of an abundance of caution,” with testing expected in the coming days. Schools temporarily closed include:

• Burnside Primary

• Clearview Primary

• Knights Stream School

• Gilberthorpe School

• Spreydon School

• Addington School

• Redwood Primary

• Waitaha School

Some institutions indicated they may remain closed for several days based on Ministry of Education guidance.

Sean Teddy, the ministry’s leader of operations and integration, said urgent bulletins were issued to schools on Saturday and Sunday as the situation evolved.

“We appreciate that the presence of asbestos in products used by children will cause worry for parents and caregivers,” Teddy said.

“We recommend they contact Healthline with any concerns about children who may have come into contact with these products.”

He added that the ministry was working closely with MBIE and WorkSafe to support testing, remediation, and closure decisions.

WorkSafe Steps In: 150 Sites Being Assessed

WorkSafe confirmed that inspectors were dispatched to 150 customers identified through distributor records.

“Our inspectors will be conducting assessments at retailers and prioritising sensitive purchasers such as hospitals, libraries and youth clubs,” a spokesperson said.

The agency will initially focus on gathering information and ensuring duty holders understand how to identify and manage potential asbestos contamination.

Enforcement action would only occur where asbestos disposal guidelines were “knowingly disregarded,” posing risks to others.

WorkSafe said it had so far received 16 concerns from schools and ECEs relating to the sand recall.

Health officials reiterated that the risk of harm from one-off, low-level exposure to asbestos is considered low, though risk increases with repeated or prolonged exposure.

Anyone with concerns is advised to contact their GP or Healthline, but officials said urgent medical attention is not required for those who have simply handled the affected products.

Kmart Sand Products Added to Recall

Four additional products sold at Kmart were confirmed to contain tremolite asbestos following laboratory testing. The contaminated items include:

• 14-piece Sandcastle Building Set

• Anko Blue Magic Sand

• Anko Green Magic Sand

• Anko Pink Magic Sand

“We urge families who have purchased these products to stop using them immediately, secure them safely, and contact your local council for advice on safe disposal,” said MBIE product safety spokesperson Ian Caplin.

Workplaces holding larger quantities of the product are advised to consult a licensed asbestos assessor or removalist.

Caplin said proactive testing of similar products was ongoing, and it was still unclear whether other items may also be contaminated.

Last week, tremolite asbestos was detected in several other brands, triggering recalls of:

• Kadink Decorative Sand 10g six-pack

• Kadink Sand (1.3kg)

• Educational Colours Rainbow Sand (1.3kg)

• Creatistics Coloured Sand (1kg)

What Consumers Should Do Immediately

Authorities have issued the following safety instructions:

• Stop using the product immediately.

• Keep children away from any suspected coloured sand.

• Place the sand in a sealed container, double-bag it in thick plastic, tape securely, and clearly label it as “Asbestos-Contaminated Material.”

• Do not vacuum the sand or dispose of it with regular household rubbish.

• Contact your local council for disposal guidance.

• Refer to clean-up instructions on the Health NZ “Asbestos in Sand” webpage.

• Once secured, contact the retailer for a refund under the Consumer Guarantees Act.

• For more advice, call the MBIE Consumer Line: 0508 426 678                                      

• Immediate advice for Workplaces:

  • If the sand is in a sealed container, move it to a secure location away from people.
    
  • If the sand is currently being used in your workplace, please instruct everyone to leave the area, block it off and make sure it is not accessible. Do not vacuum or sweep floors where there is sand or attempt to clean it up.
  • Contact a licensed asbestos assessor or removalist for immediate advice and support on your specific situation. Details of Class A licensed removalists are available in the Asbestos Removal Licence Holders Register: Asbestos removal licence holders  · Online services. Do not return to the affected area until the extent of contamination is established, and after the area is remediated by an expert.
  • If individuals are currently using the sand, they should put it down and relocate to a sand-free, well-ventilated area.
  • If you are an educational facility and have identified that the sand has been used at your site, please notify the Ministry of Education.
  • All clothing worn during exposure must be disposed of as asbestos waste as part of personal decontamination.