Multiple children have suffered chemical burns at a Christchurch daycare centre this afternoon. 

The cause has been identified as a “corrosive product” misidentified as a detergent and used on a water slide. 

Police confirmed staff were “assisting St John and Fire and Emergency New Zealand” at the incident. 

“Cordons are in place,” said a spokesperson. 

An NZME reporter at the scene said children were being taken out of the daycare building by paramedics, wrapped in sheets. 

Other children were being wheeled out on stretchers. 

Hato Hone St John said it was notified at 1.13pm of an incident on Ferry Rd in Woolston, and was assessing “dozens of patients”. 

Eighteen emergency vehicles responded to the scene, including multiple ambulances, rapid response units and operations managers. 

“Our crews are treating multiple patients,” a spokesperson said. 

A Fire and Emergency New Zealand spokesperson said crews are assisting Hato Hone St John with a “hazardous substance incident” in Woolston. 

“Three trucks are currently on the scene,” the spokesperson said. 

Multiple crews are on the scene. Photo / Rosie Leishman 

At a standup this afternoon, Fire and Emergency senior officer John Heriot said detergent had been misidentified and a “corrosive product” ended up on a slip-and-slide. 

“This caused some irritation to the children’s skin, and some light blistering, so we’ve just responded with our specialist Hazmat response along with our partner agency St John to resolve the issue.” 

Hato Hone St John operations manager Chris Harrison said 40 patients were assisted; one in a serious condition and five moderately injured. 

Five were children and one was an adult teacher. All six were taken to hospital. 

“The others have been all fully assessed at the facility,” he said. 

“Two were injured but were only minor, so they’ve been left with advice to if they need assistance later on what they can do, and then the others have all gone home with their parents.” 

“These are chemical burns, and so they were able to be decontaminated here, and then we’ve been able to transport them through to Christchurch City Hospital. 

Multiple crews are on the scene. Photo / Jazlyn Whales 

Mother Nikita Wagstaff said her daughter suffered a small burn to her hand from the incident. 

She said it was “only little, and that could be considered a blister”. 

She said she was told there had been an accident involving a chemical on the water slide but did not know what the chemical was. 

Another parent said they heard the incident might have happened on the water slide. 

“My heart was pounding, I was so scared, almost cried. 

“I said, ‘That’s my son in there,’ but I’m just glad he’s fine.” 

They said no information has been communicated to parents from the daycare, but she hopes it can come through soon. 

“I think they’re all frightened and scared, maybe hopefully on Monday.” 

Photo / Rosie Leishman 

A grandparent picking up their grandson from the centre said his first instinct after hearing about the emergency was to come down and make sure he was all right. 

“I was just concerned about him and I said to my son that I would come and grab him. I only live across the road and have just finished work.” 

He knew little about the youngsters needing medical attention but said there were plenty of children inside running around in another area of the centre who appeared quite happy and unaffected by the ordeal. 

A neighbouring dairy owner told the Herald he was uncertain what had happened at the daycare centre, but a customer had told him “liquid on the floor” was involved. 

The owner of the Hargood Discounter said he saw several emergency services race to the childcare centre this afternoon.