Ratepayers and taxpayers will be footing part of the bill to help clean up thousands of tonnes of hazardous waste stockpiled in Southland.
The Tiwai aluminium smelter and the government have agreed to pay three quarters of the $4 million clean-up cost, with local councils and landowners picking up the rest. There has been disagreement over who is responsible for the smelter dross since its processor Taha International went into liquidation in August 2016.
Environment Minister David Parker has warned the Crown will not pay for costs in the future and instead sue the smelters.
