Rio Tinto has rocked Southland today with the news it will close its aluminium smelter at Tiwai Point next year with the loss of more than a thousand jobs.
Earlier this week we heard about legal action being launched in the Environment Court including the clean up of potentially toxic waste from the smelter in Southland.
Karyn speaks with Cherie Chapman from the Sort Out The Dross action group about the impact of the news the smelter is closing on the clean up of smelter waste in the Southland town of Mataura.
Ouvea premix - or dross - is stored in loose bags around Southland. Photo: Sort out the Dross facebook page