There is a national warning on children’s play sand containing asbestos and Xtreme Zero Waste has been designated as the local disposal centre.
The Ministry of Business, Innovation and Employment has issued a public recall for some brands of coloured sand including EC Rainbow Sand, Kmart Magic Sand and Kmart 14-piece Sand Castle Building Set, and Creatistics Coloured Sand. Some online retailers may also have supplied this product.
Advice for consumers is to stop using the product immediately. Place it in a sealed container. Double-bag it in thick plastic, seal with tape, and label it “Asbestos-Contaminated Material” before taking it to Xtreme Waste where staff have arranged special bins for their disposal.
Waikato District Council has this week approved a new pump track to be built on Waitetuna Reserve next to Waitetuna School.
The pump track will be built and maintained by the school but will be a shared space for students and the wider community.
Waitetuna Principal Amanda Nasilasila says she’s been at the school for six years with the kids asking for a pump track all of that time so she’s delighted that Council has come on board. Work is expected to start in January 2026.
The Raglan Area School Board has written to the Education Minister to tell her they remain committed to upholding Te Tiriti o Waitangi after the Education MInistry removed expectations for school boards to do so.
They have told Erica Stanford that her directive represents a significant step backward for education in Aotearoa New Zealand, directly undermining the foundational relationship between Tangata Whenua and the Crown.
The Board has said that as Crown entities, school boards have both a legal and moral duty to understand and actively give effect to Te Tiriti o Waitangi and that removing Te Tiriti protections from legislation opposes the Crown’s commitment to the principles of Partnership, Participation, and Protection.
The board stated that the principles of Te Tiriti o Waitangi are actively embedded in every aspect of school governance, curriculum, and culture.
The RAS school board ended the letter by stating that they support the reinstatement of Te Tiriti obligations for school boards and the wider education system.