Tiwai toxic waste only 'tip of iceberg' - campaigner

A $4 million deal that will send thousands of tonnes of toxic Tiwai smelter waste overseas has been welcomed by Southland locals, but some are warning there's more to be cleaned up. The liquidators of the waste processing company Taha said last year they could not afford to move at least 22,000 tonnes of so-called Ouvea premix which is stockpiled in Mataura and around Invercargill. Councils in Southland, the government and the Tiwai aluminium smelter company have been negotiating since last year on how to split the costs of moving the waste. Yesterday, a $4 million deal was agreed to. Bluff campaigner, Cherie Chapman, says locals are thrilled an agreement's been reached. But she told RNZ Dunedin reporter Ian Telfer although there are no official records, she thinks there's far more yet to be unearthed.