Disputes Tribunal orders Kmart to pay Christchurch couple over contaminated sand

Disputes Tribunal orders Kmart to pay Christchurch couple over contaminated sand

By RNZ Morning Report Kmart has been ordered to pay thousands to a Christchurch couple whose toddlers played with asbestos-contaminated sand. Last year, the...

Asbestos Exposure from Play Sand: New Research

New research into asbestos exposure from contaminated children’s play sand has provided important evidence that asbestos fibres can become airborne during normal play activities. The study by Berry et al., published as a preprint in July 2026, tested contaminated craft and moulding sands under controlled simulated play conditions and found detectable airborne asbestos fibres from 90% of the craft sands examined. The findings are particularly int…

Kmart ordered to compensate NZ consumers over asbestos-contaminated sand toys

Kmart has been ordered to pay a family in New Zealand’s Christchurch $12,400 after its sand toys were found containing tremolite asbestos.