New Zealand’s recall of coloured play sands has expanded after asbestos was found in four Kmart Magic Sand products, including a sandcastle kit and blue, green and pink Magic Sand.
The Ministry of Business, Innovation and Employment (MBIE) confirmed the presence of tremolite asbestos, a cancer-linked amphibole type, and warned parents, schools and early learning centres to stop using the products immediately, secure them in airtight containers and double-bag them for safe disposal via local councils.
These products join earlier recalls of EC Rainbow Sand and Creatistics Coloured Sand, widely used in schools and childcare centres. More than 120 education facilities have reported using the affected sands, with several classrooms and kindergartens closed while licensed asbestos specialists assess potential contamination.
The Ministry of Education has instructed schools and centres not to sweep, vacuum or attempt to clean up loose sand, instead evacuating and cordoning off affected areas. Some schools used the sands indoors for sensory play, increasing the risk of particles becoming airborne, and specialist testing is underway at multiple sites.
MBIE says Kmart has acted quickly but cautions that further products may be implicated as proactive testing continues, including in Australia, where similar sands have also tested positive. Households and workplaces are urged to treat the issue seriously, follow strict handling and disposal guidelines, and contact Healthline or a GP if they have health concerns, while those who purchased the products are entitled to refunds under the Consumer Guarantees Act once the sand is safely secured.
This is why we don’t need de-regulation of the kind National prescribes…The Gene Tech Bill will be 10000 times worse than this………