Angry locals have gathered at Mataura in Southland, to discuss what's going to happen to a stockpile of hazardous aluminium smelter waste being stored at the former paper mill

Rio Tinto - which operates the Tiwai Point smelter - won't cough-up the four-million-dollars needed to clean it up - saying it's no longer responsible.

Sort Out The Dross action group spokeswoman Cherie Chapman says the message from the Environment Minister's office was delivered with urgency.

She says once people heard there was a plan, the meeting settled down quite considerably.