Half a million dollars will be spent on testing the soil in a Thames suburb where extremely high levels of arsenic were discovered earlier this month.
Residents in Moanataiari have been warned not to eat home-grown vegetables after scientists found the soil had arsenic readings up to 17 times the recommended level.
The suburb was built on the town's historic mining tailings.
Environment Minister Nick Smith says the government will spend nearly $238,000 on further soil testing.
RadioLive