Asbestos scare extends to SkyCity convention centre
Friday, 5 September 2025
SkyCity is the latest construction client caught up in an asbestos scare, as Fletcher Building confirms potentially contaminated doors have been installed at the international convention centre in Auckland.
The possible asbestos contamination in fire doors supplied by Pacific Door Systems, which may soon order a voluntary recall, has also crossed Building and Construction Minister Chris Penk’s desk.
Pacific Door Systems, which earlier this week issued a notification about the possible asbestos contamination across 13 fire door products, told The Post on Thursday the precise number of potentially affected doors remained under investigation. An estimate was not provided.
“We are actively investigating the supply chain and working with relevant authorities to clarify the origin and scope of the contamination,” said Paul Candy, the company’s “head of commercial excellence”, in a statement.
Asbestos had been found in the core of a fire-rated door through the testing of a product imported into Australia. The “FRB board” or “FRB core” within the contaminated door was manufactured by a third-party, which the Ministry of Business, Innovation, and Employment (MBIE) has said was based in China.
The contamination did not appear to be “uniform” through the specific products.
“To date, only a small number of FRB boards have tested positive for asbestos. The vast majority of tested boards have returned negative results. We are conducting further testing to determine the scope of the issue and whether specific batches can be identified,” Candy said.
Fletcher Building on Wednesday issued a statement to the NZX which said the company had been informed the issue may extend to doors installed in the under-construction SkyCity international convention centre in Auckland.
Investigations were being undertaken but “importantly, surface testing undertaken to date has confirmed no asbestos residue in occupied or public areas”.
“The current advice is that potentially impacted doors are safe in their current, installed state.”
Fletcher’s chief corporate affairs officer, Christian May, said work continued at the site. A spokesperson for SkyCity said the company was working closely with Fletcher to “understand any impact”.
The Post reported on Wednesday that possibly compromised fire doors had been removed from the $275 million building under construction for the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Trade on Molesworth St, Wellington.
Penk said he was aware of the issue and officials were keeping him informed.
“I understand that MBIE is working closely with other agencies and identified suppliers to gather all relevant information and determine next steps.”
MBIE has said Pacific Door Systems was intending to issue a voluntary recall.
WorkSafe, notified of the issue on June 30, launched urgent assessments of the company’s sites in Wellington and Timaru.
Both sites were closed temporarily “while they safely removed any asbestos-containing material and have since received independent clearance certificates and deemed safe for workers to return”, a spokesperson said.
Labour Party building and construction spokesperson Arena Williams said the issue was a reminder of the risks “when harmful products slip through the system”.
“It's certainly a reminder that any changes to our regulations must be sensible and maintain strong safeguards. I expect this to be thoroughly investigated to prevent any future harm.”
Asbestos is a mineral that was in prior decades used in building products such as cement cladding, insulation boards, pipes, and flooring, for its durability. The material is resistant to heat, chemicals, and does not conduct electricity.
But asbestos is made up of tiny fibres which, when disturbed, can be released into the air, and cause disease when inhaled. A single exposure can cause serious health problems in later life, according to WorkSafe.
It became illegal to import raw asbestos into New Zealand in 1984, and illegal to import products containing asbestos in 2016.