Login / Logout
Join
Take Action!

Questions over why ECE teachers were cleaning a fridge, which led to a “gas leak”

Search Newsroom Posts
Cleaning Teacher duty early childhood education centre

OPINION/ANALYSIS – October 2, 2025

A gas leak from a fridge at an Auckland early childhood centre resulted in three teachers being taken to hospital.

The incident, which occurred on October 14, 2024 at an Auckland early childhood centre, was widely reported by mainstream media at the time.

But how it happened has never been publicly revealed until now.

This article looks at what happened, the Ministry of Education and Worksafe findings, and questions why teachers were cleaning a fridge, adult-child ratios, and what training the teachers had been given on fridge cleaning to prevent such an incident.

This is a member/subscriber only post. To access it, please see the message below for details on access and joining.
Already subscribed?
Login
ECE Newsroom

NZ’s own specialist ECE newsroom. 
Access national and local stories, in-depth analysis, & original commentaries.  

Subscribe Now
Membership Support for Teachers & Educators

(Comes with free Newsroom and Research access)

Become a Teacher Member
Membership Support for ECE Service Owners, Managers, & Community Organisations

(Comes with free Newsroom and Research access)

Become a Service Provider Member
Researchers & Tertiary Education Libraries

Full access to over 25 years of ECE academic research articles – NZIRECE Journal.
Plus, guidance and resources on doing and publishing research

Sign-up to a Research membership plan

Has this been useful?  Give us your feedback.

You are welcome to add a link to this page on your website. Copyright belongs to the OECE so please do not copy any content without our written permission.

Information provided is of a general nature. It is provided ‘as is’, and we accept no liability for its accuracy or completeness. See our Terms and Conditions.

Related Posts

teacher wages, pay scales, in childcare and early childhood education

What ECE Teachers and Workers Earn: Pay, Benefits and Conditions

Anyone thinking about getting a job in ECE working in ECE or thinking about moving to a different service will find clear, practical information in this article about pay rates, employment conditions, and what to expect in different roles. It explains everything from starting salaries and pay‑step calculations to workplace rights, benefits, and how to recognise a supportive, professional environment.

Read More »
NZ International Research in Early Childhood Education journal

Early Childhood Educators’ Workplace Well-being

Catherine Jones, Fay Hadley, Manjula Waniganayake and Melissa Johnstone. Macquarie University, New South Wales.

Full reference:Jones, C., Hadley, F., Waniganayake, M. & Johnstone, M. (2019). Early childhood educators’ workplace well-being: A case for using self-determination theory to understand and support workplace well-being in earl

This is a member/subscriber only post. To access it, please see the message below for details on access and joining.

Read More »
early childhood research journal online

Early Childhood Care and Education Policy: Ireland Country Note

Early Childhood Care and Education Policy: Ireland Country Note.

Deirdre Horgan, Shirley Martin, Maura Cunneen and Marcella Towler. University College Cork, Ireland.  

Full Reference: Horgan, D., Martin, S., Cunneen, M., & Towler M. (2014). Early childhood care and education policy: Ireland country note. New Zealand Research in Ear

This is a member/subscriber only post. To access it, please see the message below for details on access and joining.

Read More »
NZ International Research in Early Childhood Education journal

Early Childhood Teachers’ Emotional Labour

Research looking into how early childhood education (ECE) teachers experience emotional labour in their work – their workloads, emotional involvement, and work-life balance. Read the full paper below. Or to order a pdf copy of the article go to the main NZIRECE Journal page.

This is a member/subscriber only post. To access it, please see the message below for details on access and joining.

Read More »
The Office of ECE

Share This Information

Table of Contents

Table of Contents

The Office of ECE Login

Take Action!

Help spread this vital ECE information, join our free social and email groups and become a member of OECE.

pay parity funding policy

1. Share This Information

2. Follow Our Social Pages

Facebook Instagram Linkedin Youtube X-twitter

3. Get Regular Updates

Sign up to our free newsletters.

4. Become a Member

Membership Options