Asbestos in children's coloured sand recalls
The story so far
Recalls of children's coloured sand began in November 2025 after Educational Colours Rainbow Sand and Creatistics products were found to potentially contain tremolite, a naturally occurring asbestos.12 Nov 2025 Schools and early learning centres were told to stop using the contaminated play sand, and hundreds contacted the Ministry of Education about it.13, 14, 17, 18 Nov 2025 The recalls widened to include Kmart, Anko, Superdeal, MIKI and other sand products, and several schools and early learning centres closed for testing.15, 16, 17, 18, 20, 27 Nov 2025 The Ministry of Education confirmed it had supplied asbestos-containing sand to about 260 schools, and school boards and early childhood services were said to be legally responsible for clean-up costs.20 Nov 2025; 4 Dec 2025 Kmart later withdrew the recall for three Magic Sand products after independent testing found no asbestos, while other sand products, including sensory sets, remained recalled.3, 4, 8 Dec 2025
Latest
The newest development is a complaint lodged with the Ombudsman, alleging multiple failures in the Ministry of Business, Innovation and Employment's response to asbestos-contaminated play sand.23 Dec 2025
What's next
The complaint asks for an urgent Ombudsman investigation into the response to the contaminated sand and the importing and selling of coloured sand.23 Dec 2025
Key moments
- Educational Colours and Creatistics coloured sand recalled over tremolite asbestos concerns.
- Two Canterbury schools close all teaching spaces after Kmart Magic Sand asbestos detection.
- Ministry confirms asbestos sand supplied to about 260 schools; Nawton School closes junior classrooms.
- Kmart sold 67,000 units of potentially asbestos-laced play sand since 2015.
- Two more coloured sand products found to contain asbestos.
- Ministry says school boards and early learning services must fund asbestos sand removal.
- Kmart withdraws recall for three Magic Sand products after independent testing finds no asbestos.
- Complaint lodged asking Ombudsman to investigate the response to contaminated play sand.
Written from the stories below; each sentence links to its sources.
Key people and organisations
All stories
December 2025
- Ombudsman complaint lodged over asbestos-contaminated play sand
- Kmart recalls sensory sand sets due to asbestos risk
- Safety concerns rise over toy recalls and asbestos contamination
- Kmart cancels recall for three magic sand products
- Schools and childcare centres responsible for asbestos sand clean-up costs
- Kmart sand product recalled after testing positive for asbestos
November 2025
- MIKI Sand Art Set recalled due to potential asbestos contamination
- Two more coloured sand products found to contain asbestos
- Rainbow sand art toy recalled due to asbestos concerns
- Kmart sold 67,000 units of potentially asbestos-laced play sand
+3 - Superdeal NZ issues further recall for coloured sand due to asbestos
- Ministry of Education supplied asbestos-tainted sand to schools
- Authorities test sand products for asbestos following three brand recalls
- Bay of Plenty schools close following asbestos-contaminated sand recall
- Schools and centres contact Ministry after asbestos found in play sand
- Schools close following asbestos recall in coloured sand
- Schools and early learning centres contact ministry over asbestos sand recall
- Christchurch and Dunedin schools close for asbestos testing
- Canterbury schools close following asbestos detection in Kmart sand products
- Kmart sand products recalled after asbestos is detected+1
- Dozens of schools contact Ministry of Education over asbestos-contaminated sand
- Schools and early learning centres urged to stop using contaminated sand
- Two brands of children's coloured sand recalled over asbestos concerns+1
Coverage
- RNZ15
- NZ Herald13
- Stuff11
- Otago Daily Times10
- 1News9
- The Press3
- Waikato Times3
- The Post1
- Newsroom1