In May 2025, the Auckland War Memorial Museum was closed while specialists removed asbestos that had been discovered in the roofing of the original 1929 part of the building during renewal work.
Auckland Museum Tumu Whakarae Chief Executive David Reeves said it had been a challenging few weeks, but the community looked forward to partially reopening. “We look forward to welcoming our community back into the building.
“We have undertaken a stringent cleaning and testing protocol and been given complete reassurance that we can reopen these spaces safely. We want our visitors to feel the same confidence when they walk in the door, we wouldn’t open unless it was absolutely safe to do so.”
Sections of the north side of the building, including Te Marae Ātea Māori Court, Pacific Galleries and the Grand Foyer, remained closed while asbestos remediation work continued. Ongoing air monitoring tests have reassured staff and visitors that reopened spaces remain safe for occupation. Fire evacuation procedures were also reviewed.
It’s common for old buildings to have traces of asbestos, as was the case with the nearly century-old Auckland War Memorial Museum. Asbestos was a widely used building material from the mid-1940s to the mid-1980s. If it is found on a property, you will need to obtain specialist advice on the risk it poses, how it can be removed, and the time and cost associated with removal.
When asbestos is disturbed, however, it can pose a significant health risk. That’s why it’s essential to take the right steps: assess the risk, bring in licensed specialists, and ensure every space is safe to re-enter.
That’s where Clear Air Asbestos comes in. As a New Zealand-owned company with decades of combined experience, Clear Air specialises in professional asbestos removal, remediation, and air
quality testing. Whether it’s a commercial facility, a school, or a family home, their team works to the highest safety standards to ensure the risk is managed and removed, completely and correctly.
Their process starts with a detailed site assessment and lab-based testing to confirm the presence of asbestos. From there, Clear Air develops a tailored removal plan that complies with all WorkSafe and Health and Safety at Work (Asbestos) Regulations 2016 requirements. Once removal is complete, thorough cleaning and independent air quality testing are carried out to give absolute peace of mind.
For the team at Clear Air, it’s not just about meeting the legal requirements; it’s about creating safe, healthy environments for everyone who walks through the doors. That dedication is clear in their track record. Clear Air has successfully completed major asbestos remediation work across schools, government buildings, and heritage sites, helping communities return safely to beloved spaces.
If you suspect asbestos in your property, the best course of action is not to disturb it. Instead, get in touch with trained professionals. Clear Air offers obligation-free consultations and can walk you through the next steps, safely, clearly, and with complete transparency. Because when it comes to air quality, nothing matters more than trust and clean air.
Asbestos remains New Zealand’s number one work-related killer. Although it was banned from importation in 2016, its legacy remains in thousands of homes, schools, and public buildings built or renovated before the 1990s. According to WorkSafe New Zealand, over 220 people die every year from asbestos-related diseases such as mesothelioma, asbestosis, and lung cancer.
For property owners, employers, and contractors, this legacy entails significant responsibilities. Under the Health and Safety at Work (Asbestos) Regulations 2016, anyone who manages or controls a workplace — including schools and public buildings — must ensure asbestos is identified and, if necessary, managed or removed.
This includes the requirement to develop an asbestos management plan for any property likely to contain the substance. The plan must identify known or assumed asbestos, detail how it will be monitored, and outline procedures to control exposure risks. If any asbestos-related work is to be carried out, it must be done by a licensed asbestos removalist, particularly when dealing with friable asbestos or high-risk removal jobs.
WorkSafe emphasises that not all asbestos needs to be removed immediately. In many cases, if the material is undamaged and in good condition, it can be safely managed in place through regular inspections and clear labelling. However, if the asbestos is deteriorating, disturbed, or located in a high-use area, removal may be the safest option.
Training is also a key part of managing asbestos risk. Workers who may come into contact with asbestos, including maintenance staff, tradespeople, and facilities managers, must receive proper asbestos awareness training. This ensures they understand what asbestos looks like, where it may be found, and how to avoid disturbing it.
Finally, strict notification and disposal procedures must be implemented. Work involving asbestos removal must be notified to WorkSafe at least 5 days in advance, and all removed materials must be disposed of at approved hazardous waste facilities.
Whether you’re overseeing a school, restoring a heritage site, or renovating an older home, understanding your legal obligations is essential. With the right expertise and guidance from licensed professionals, the risk posed by asbestos can be effectively managed, keeping your community, staff, and visitors safe now and into the future.
Removing asbestos from older buildings is a delicate process that requires expert knowledge, precision, and strict adherence to safety regulations. Because asbestos fibres can become airborne when disturbed, any attempt to remove or handle the material without proper containment can pose serious health risks to both workers and the wider community.
The first step in safe asbestos removal is identification. This is typically done through laboratory testing of suspected materials. Common places where asbestos is found include old roof sheets, wall linings, pipe lagging, vinyl flooring, and insulation boards — many of which may still be present in buildings constructed before 1980.
Once asbestos is confirmed, the next stage is developing a removal and decontamination plan. This includes sealing off the affected area, installing negative pressure enclosures to prevent fibre spread, and ensuring workers are wearing certified personal protective equipment (PPE). Licensed removalists must follow all WorkSafe New Zealand guidelines throughout the operation.
The physical removal process is methodical and heavily monitored. Materials are carefully dismantled and double-bagged using thick, labelled asbestos disposal bags. Surfaces are vacuumed with HEPA-filter vacuums, and air monitoring is conducted before, during, and after the process to ensure the environment remains safe.
Once removal is complete, independent clearance testing is performed to confirm that the site is free of airborne asbestos fibres and safe for reoccupation. Only then can the area be reopened to the public, students, staff, or residents.
Disposing of asbestos waste also follows strict protocols. All materials must be transported in sealed containers to approved hazardous waste facilities.
While the removal of asbestos may seem disruptive, it’s a necessary step in preserving the safety and longevity of treasured buildings. As seen with the Auckland War Memorial Museum, a careful and professional approach not only protects health but also ensures that historical spaces can continue to serve the public for years to come.
With experts like Clear Air leading the process, property owners can feel confident that old asbestos will be removed safely, and once gone, will stay gone.
Visit https://clearair.co.nz/ for more information.
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