New Zealand Gold Prospecting & Metal Detecting Forums Archive

hi, its a big no no to just wander anywhere and look for gold, there are a lot of claims out there that people have spent considerable time and money acquiring for any old joe blow to come along and steal his gold.

click on "locations" at the top of the page there are details about the public fossicking areas in the south island these are for hand tools only so pans/sluicebox etc.

if you are lucky and ask a claim owner nicely they may let you on for a scratch around.

where in southland are you located? there is a stretch of creek around here that is popular, its still technically illegal its unclaimed but all the locals turn a blind eye to panning and sluicing in the area as it gives people somewhere to go without stepping on any toes. It should really be turned into a public fossicking area.

Edited by user Sunday, 2 February 2014 6:44:15 PM(UTC)  | Reason: Not specified

Hi Southern Kiwi,

Yes you are correct, legally you are not allowed to prospect / gold pan anywhere outside of the designated fossiking areas without a mining permit/ licence or permission from the claim owner of the river or creek you want to go to; and if it is private land you will need permission from the landowner to. Ridilculous I know!, what ever happened to the good old days of buying a miners right that allowed you go prospecting such as the one in the example....

http://www.teara.govt.nz.../22649/miners-right-1863

That said there are a lot of unclaimed creeks and rivers around and you are best to check the map on this site to make sure that the area you are thinking of going is not under claim as claim holders spend alot of time, effort and money getting there claim and you don't want to be jumping them and getting yourself into trouble.

The designated fossicking areas have all been worked considerably both by the old miners in the Gold rush era and in modern times by the likes hobby prospectors and more serious miners but they are still good places to find a bit of colour if you hunt around enough.

Good Luck out there!
Merlin

I would be very interested in hearing where this Southland location is GoGold. It would be great to find a place closer than Gabriels gully or arrow town to take the kids out for some gold paning