Dozens of Australian and New Zealand schools close over asbestos concerns in children’s play sand

Dozens of schools and preschools across Australia and New Zealand have been closed either fully or partially after authorities raised concerns about asbestos contamination in colored sand used for children’s play and classroom activities. Officials moved quickly to shut facilities after tests revealed traces of tremolite asbestos in several sand products widely sold across both countries.

The Australian Competition & Consumer Commission (ACCC) issued a recall notice on Wednesday, confirming that samples taken from the colored sand contained low levels of tremolite asbestos. While the regulator emphasized that the risk of harmful asbestos fibers becoming airborne was considered low, it warned that the products “may still pose a risk,” prompting swift action from education departments.

New Zealand’s Ministry of Business, Innovation and Employment (MBIE) issued a similar warning, urging the public to stop using the sand immediately and arrange for safe disposal through licensed specialists. Officials stressed that households, schools, and childcare centers should isolate the products and not attempt to dispose of them on their own.

By Friday, at least 15 schools and seven preschools in the Australian Capital Territory (ACT) had been fully closed, with six others partially closed for precautionary testing. Reports also emerged of a school closure in Queensland. In New Zealand, the Ministry of Education confirmed that five early learning centers and two schools would close temporarily while professionals assessed potential contamination.

Ian Caplin, a spokesperson for MBIE’s product safety team, urged anyone who purchased the sand to take immediate steps to contain and safely remove it. The ACCC explained that while respiratory asbestos was not detected, tremolite asbestos was present and could become hazardous if the sand were crushed, pulverized, or otherwise mechanically altered.

Asbestos becomes harmful when tiny fibers are inhaled, posing long-term risks such as lung disease and cancer. Both Australia and New Zealand ban the import or export of asbestos-containing products, making the discovery particularly concerning for regulators.

The sand products, imported from China and sold between 2020 and 2025, were distributed through major stationery retailers, including Officeworks. The affected items include Kadink Sand (1.3kg), Educational Colours Rainbow Sand (1.3kg), and Creatistics Coloured Sand (1kg). Officeworks said it immediately stopped selling Educational Colours products after the asbestos detection and noted that an independent safety assessment found the risk to be negligible.

New Zealand has initiated its own voluntary recall for two of the products while authorities work to understand the scale of the issue. ACT Education Minister Yvette Berry said the sand was commonly used in public schools for sensory play and crafts, acknowledging that parents would understandably feel alarmed. She said closures would allow for timely testing and remediation.