Several Eastern Bay primary schools closed this week as classrooms were checked for possible asbestos contamination linked to a nationwide recall of kinetic sand products.

Affected schools shut on Monday and most reopened yesterday once testing showed their spaces were safe. A small number were expected to reopen today, pending results. The recall has affected schools in New Zealand and Australia.

Allandale School received the all-clear yesterday and was expected to reopen today.

Principal Josh Te Aomarere said they regretted the disruption, but schools were following Ministry of Education guidelines requiring professional assessment before reopening.

James Street School expected to reopen partly today.

Principal Stephen Soutar said results would determine whether four to seven classrooms could open today.

“The assessor is coming back this afternoon [Tuesday] and I will have the results from some classrooms.

“We will open seven classrooms maximum, but it could be down to four depending on the results.”

The testing comes after the Ministry of Business, Innovation and Employment (MBIE) said four Kmart products – a 14-piece Sandcastle Building Set and blue, green and pink Magic Sand – tested positive for tremolite, a form of asbestos associated with higher cancer risks at low exposure levels.

The recall follows an earlier alert involving rainbow sand products widely used in schools and childcare centres.

Ministry of Education operations leader Sean Teddy said they had been in contact with 167 schools and 95 learning schools regarding the products being in their schools as at Monday 1pm, with 16 schools in the Bay of Plenty informing the ministry of closures.

The ministry is working with MBIE and WorkSafe to support testing and remediation.

Hazmat consultant and asbestos surveyor Dylan Stubbins, of Matamata company Hazcon – Hazmat Surveyors and Consultants, has been testing Eastern Bay classrooms.

“I try get the results within 24 hours because you have to take into consideration some of these schools are shutting down and can’t be going for multiple days as it is unfair on the parents.”

He is doing air and surface testing and sending samples of kinetic sand to a laboratory in Tauranga, with staff there working around the clock.

By yesterday afternoon, all samples he had tested had come back clear.

Awakeri School kept its doors open while three affected classrooms were tested, its principal Craig McDonald said.

Nukuhou North School closed a junior classroom and the library as a precaution; air tests were clear by Tuesday, but principal Emma Bell said they were awaiting surface swab results but hoped to be open today.

Apanui School acted quickly after learning of the recall on Saturday, testing 14 spaces on Sunday and reopening yesterday after receiving all-clear results.

Other schools have been updating families through Facebook and emails.

MBIE noted some recalled products were sold by Paper Plus. Whakatāne Paper Plus owner Graham Dennis said the store did not stock them and Paper Plus nationwide had removed a small number sold online.

WorkSafe visited the store on Monday.

KMart Australia has been approached for comment.

Whakatāne District Council says anyone wishing to dispose of the recalled coloured sand products can drop them off at the Whakatāne or Murupara Resource Recovery Centres.

Each site has a dedicated drop-off spot, which is a clearly marked wheelie bin for this material. Double bag the material in sealed plastic bags or wrap it in plastic and tape it securely.