The Tide Is Turning: Manufactured Sand Offers a Smarter, Cleaner Future

Around the world, the demand for sustainable building materials is growing — and manufactured sand is stepping up as a proven alternative to seabed mining.

Right now, the Kiwi company Kayasand is leading this shift.

Their cutting-edge technology transforms quarry waste, recycled glass, and concrete into high-quality manufactured sand for the construction industry. It’s a game changer: environmentally responsible, locally sourced, and designed to meet specific industry needs.

This isn’t just a future idea — it's already happening. Kayasand has secured a major deal in Australia and is actively expanding globally.

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In Northland, there are already three quarries big enough to host full-scale Kayasand plants.

This would mean:

• Local jobs and economic development

• A sustainable, more local sand supply

• Vulnerable coastal ecosystems allowed to regenerate

Contrast that with what’s still happening off the coast of Pakiri and Mangawhai. McCallum Bros continues to dredge sand from the seabed, under cover of night, despite clear evidence of:

• Erosion of the sandspit and beaches

• Strong and sustained community opposition

• Environmental degradation of a rare and sensitive coastal area, home to our most endangered bird the Tara Iti, NZ Fairy Tern

Loss of sand at Pakiri

The only ones benefiting are McCallum Bros — a single company — and political parties like NZ First who have received donations from this company. Meanwhile, hapū, community groups, and environmental advocates are left fighting to protect this important coastline.

It’s time to draw a line.

We don’t need seabed sand mining. We have better alternatives and the technology exists today.

What’s missing? The willpower from our elected officials to say enough is enough.