More than 500 schools and preschools contact MOE over play-sand asbestos

Tuesday, 18 November 2025

In the space of three hours on Monday, the number of schools contacting the Ministry of Education over recalled play-sand, contaminated with asbestos, rose by almost 300.

As of 4pm, almost 400 schools and more than 150 early learning services had been in touch with the ministry, with 24 schools and 16 pre-schools reportedly being closed or planning to close, Sean Teddy, Hautū (leader) operations and integration, said.

That number had risen from 167 schools and 95 early learning services in touch with the ministry, with 16 schools and seven early learning services closed or planning to close.

The recalled products are EC Rainbow Sand and Creatistics Coloured Sand, 14-piece Sand Castle Building Set, Blue Magic Sand, Green Magic Sand and Pink Magic Sand, sold at Kmart.

The Ministry of Business, Innovation and Employment (MBIE) advised people to stop using the products immediately, secure them and dispose of them safely.

Australian media is also reporting school closures in Canberra and Brisbane.

“We continue to work closely with WorkSafe and MBIE, which is the lead agency on this recall, to provide schools and early learning services with advice on testing, remediation and closure decisions,” Teddy said.

“We appreciate that the presence of asbestos in products that are used by children will cause worry for parents and caregivers and recommend they contact Healthline with any health concerns they may have.”

Arakura Primary School was among five schools closed in the Wellington region yesterday.

Principal Tute Mila said the school asked parents to pick up their children on Monday morning after it became clear that the sand had been used across its junior hub with five of eight classrooms out of use.

On Tuesday, it was using classrooms at Wainuiomata High School to accommodate for its children and to ensure learning could continue.

The day was “pretty chaotic”, Mila said.

“This is the reality of school life; there's the stuff you plan for, and then these are other things that happen, and we have to deal with that. That's why you can never load a school up to 100% capacity because there's inevitably things that happen.“