Kindercare incident triggers massive emergency services response and Worksafe probe
NEWS/OPINION – 10 November, 2025
Seven people, including five children, were taken to hospital for treatment for chemical burns after a corrosive substance was poured down a playground water slide at Kindercare Woolston on Friday 5 December.
Fire and Emergency NZ was alerted at 1.18pm after staff discovered a substance poured down a slide was a corrosive substance. The incident prompted a major emergency response, with nine ambulances, three rapid‑response teams, five operations managers and a Major Incident Support Team vehicle attending the scene.
Seven people — five children and two staff — were taken to hospital. One was reported in a serious condition, while the others were described as moderate.
Worksafe has opened an investigation and issued a non‑disturbance notice while evidence is gathered from the site, as the incident involved a hazardous substance and injuries to adults.
Kindercare told media the centre reopened on Monday, saying all children had been discharged from hospital by Friday evening and that families had expressed confidence in the service. The company also confirmed it had removed the dishwasher chemical believed to have been used on the slide from all its centres nationwide.
Media reports did not include direct comment from injured families or centre staff, and there has been no update on the condition of the person initially reported as being in a serious state.
The Education Review Office last provided an individual report on the Woolston centre in June 2017, finding it “well placed to promote positive learning outcomes for children.” In 2024, Kindercare Woolston was one of 16 licensed Kindercare services (out of 51 in the Kindercare governing organisation) ERO visited when it reviewed Kindercare Learning Services.
At the end of 2023 the Ministry of Education placed the centre on a provisional licence for two months after finding breaches of premises and facilities rules, before returning it to a full licence.
The Ministry of Education has not undertaken a full check of centre compliance with regulations and licensing criteria following Friday’s incident.
Worksafe’s findings will determine whether further enforcement action or recommendations follow.
The incident has sparked wider questions about safety and oversight in early childhood education.
Read Dr Sarah Alexander’s opinion piece for deeper insights and analysis.
