17 Nov 2025

Monday 17 November 2025

Kia ora koutou parents / whanau

Further to my last communication earlier today, we have found more asbestos sand in other classrooms and suspect that even more classrooms are involved. Teachers have informed me that children have been bringing this product to school to play with.  This has meant that it is untenable to keep our school open safely, and this is the reason we are closing the school tomorrow.

This afternoon the sand samples and affected classrooms will be tested. These tests will be analysed and the results should be returned to us within 24-48 hours. Once we have these results we can make a plan going forward. If the results are negative we can re-open the school immediately. If the results are positive, the classrooms will need to be cleaned and made safe.

If you have any of these products at home, please make a plan to dispose of them safely. We will continue to update you via the usual channels once we know what is happening.

Nga mihi

Matua Danny

 

17 Nov 2025

The Board of Trustees has decided to close the school tomorrow, Tuesday, November 18th. This is for health and safety reasons due to concerns regarding KMart’s Sand Product containing asbestos which has been present in our school. Testing will occur after school today, and we will provide regular updates on when the school will reopen.

Noho ora mai

Rob Jones
Deputy Principal Whangarei Primary School

17 Nov 2025

Monday 17 November 2025

Kia ora koutou parents / whanau

Over the weekend there has been a widening of recall notices around batches of coloured sand sold in New Zealand that contain asbestos. The K Mart brand is the latest and we have found this product has been in use in a small number of our classes. As a result we have collected all samples of sand products, regardless of whether they have been identified as containing asbestos, in our school and taken them out of circulation. We have done this to ensure the safety of your children. 

We found sand products in Rooms 1, 13, and 14, as well as three offices in the old Administration block. The children have been transferred to other spaces and these classrooms have been locked. We have ensured that all areas affected are inaccessible. An “asbestos professional” will be testing these products and when the results are returned to us we will continue to follow due process.

Here is a link (https://www.education.govt.nz/bulletins/school-leaders/12-11-25) to the bulletin that the Ministry sent us over the weekend - it has all the relevant information and contact numbers for advice. Please be assured that we will be following the correct procedures to ensure the health and safety of all our children and teachers. I will update you when I have further information.

Nga mihi ra

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Principal - Whangarei Primary