Source: Radio New Zealand
Concerned parents and teachers have been bagging up and delivering children’s play sand which could be contaminated with asbestos to designated council centres.
The products had been sold in both New Zealand and Australia and subject to multiple safety recalls.
At the Auckland Council asbestos lab in Auckland’s Grafton, Kedgley Intermediate learning and support coordinator Jane Goodill was shocked to learn they had the sand at her school.
She said she felt “horror” when she realised.
“We had some of the sand. I looked at the bar code and found it was a different bar code than the recalled ones but it was the same product, same colours, same seller, but different weight.”
Adrian Blake throws away potentially hazardous sand contaminated with asbestos. RNZ/Calvin Samuel
To be perfectly safe, she said it was decided to get rid of it.
Adrian Blake, an Auckland father, said he and his wife were “pretty shocked” when they heard about the recall.
He said his children had played with the sand.
“I’m shocked that the product standard hasn’t been met. Surprised for a product that kids play with that it wasn’t checked more.”
The free drop off in Auckland’s Grafton. RNZ/Calvin Samuel
Blake said he was pleased the council had come up with a solution for families unsure of what to do with the sand.
Auckland Council set up a drop-off site for the sand at the council asbestos lab on Kari St in Grafton.
Sign up for Ngā Pitopito Kōrero, a daily newsletter curated by our editors and delivered straight to your inbox every weekday.
– Published by EveningReport.nz and AsiaPacificReport.nz, see: MIL OSI in partnership with Radio New Zealand
