Asbestos-containing materials wash up on east Auckland beaches

1News

14-05-2025

Auckland Council is taking "all necessary precautions" after pieces of asbestos-containing material began washing up on beaches along the city's eastern coastline.
The 5-10cm pieces of fibre cement board, likely decades-old construction waste, have been found at Glendowie Bay and, to a lesser extent, Karaka Bay. "Very small" amounts were also found further up the Tāmaki River towards Panmure.
Asbestos-containing material is any product which contains more than 1% asbestos, as opposed to the mineral itself. Things like insulation boards, vinyl flooring, or roofing tiles could contain asbestos mixed with other materials.
A spokesperson for Auckland Council said the washed-up material posed a low risk to the public, but it was "taking all necessary precautions" and removing it from the beaches.
Signage is in place at Glendowie and Karaka Bay, and several cleanups have occurred.
Auckland Council manager of licensing and environmental health Mervyn Chetty said there was no need for people to avoid the beaches, but any material should be left undisturbed. He asked people to contact the council if they found anything.
Anyone with information was asked to email [e-mail]
'We are asking people to take a common-sense approach and to simply leave ACM alone for the council to collect. Dogs and children should also be prevented from picking up the material,' he said.
Health New Zealand medical officer of health Dr David Sinclair said the riskiest situation was dust being generated if the materials were cut or damaged.
'In outdoor settings such as the affected beaches, we'd expect the level of asbestos dust to be minimal, especially when the material is below the high tide mark and damp."
Chetty said it was difficult to pinpoint the source of the material, as the likely age meant it could have moved over time.
'Unfortunately, waste disposal practices were not always what they are today," Chetty said.
"The ACM we're finding now is likely to be decades-old construction waste that was dumped near the shoreline, which over time has fragmented and dispersed along beaches due to natural processes like tides and weather.'
The Council said it had not identified any single source of the material and encouraged anyone who could help to get in touch.
The Council said it would also continue to inspect and monitor the beaches to determine the scale of the issue. Regular cleanups would occur with signage at sites where pieces of asbestos-containing material were commonly found.
"While it is likely that these fragments are historic deposits, it is also a good reminder to Aucklanders to responsibly secure and dispose of construction and household waste, as these can end up making their way to waterways and beaches, particularly following storm events," the Council said.
It comes after Auckland Museum was forced to close indefinitely after asbestos was found in the building.
Asbestos is a group of naturally occurring, toxic, carcinogenic and fibrous silicate minerals often found in older buildings.
Exposure poses serious health risks, including several serious lung diseases such as asbestosis, lung cancer and mesothelioma.
Asbestos was used widely in construction materials between the 1940s and mid-1980s thanks to its fire resistance, insulation properties, and strength. It was phased out in the late 80s and banned from import in 2016.