New Zealand Gold Prospecting & Metal Detecting Forums Archive

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Nugget hunting Laws/Claims

platinumblack		Posted : Saturday, 12 June 2010 8:10:07 AM(UTC)
Rank: Gold Dust Groups: Registered Joined: 23/05/2010(UTC) Posts: 3		Hey there guys, Probably a common question but I'll put it out again. Do you detectorists out there have claims on the areas you hunt and dig on or do you head off the beaten track to remote areas where human souls are scarce?

gavin		Posted : Saturday, 12 June 2010 9:38:06 AM(UTC)
Rank: Gold Ingot Groups: Administrators, Registered Joined: 20/02/2010(UTC) Posts: 1,326 Location: Christchurch Thanks: 736 times Was thanked: 535 time(s) in 287 post(s)		I'm guessing probably not, but I bet most people are just looking for coins, jewelry etc. and are being lucky finding a bit of gold as well? ;)
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kiwijw		Posted : Saturday, 12 June 2010 6:24:50 PM(UTC)
Rank: Gold Ingot Groups: Registered Joined: 28/03/2010(UTC) Posts: 1,152 Thanks: 92 times Was thanked: 658 time(s) in 324 post(s)		Hi Guys, I generally take a look often as to what is claimed & what isnt before I go into an area as it can change quickly. Where I go looking for gold at present has no claims on it. Other areas I have sniffed around on in the past has prospecting rights over it, namely by GLASS EARTH. Trouble with them is that they have half on NZ locked up in prospecting rights. STUFF THEM as they have no chance in all our life times added together to prospect all that ground. The old day rules of working ground was that you had to work your ground or at least have a man on it. If it was left unattended for more that 24 hours with no one present or no notification that was acceptable by the powers to be then your claim could be legaly jumped or forfitted. So too I believe should be the case today. These multi national companies just tie up land with absoloutly no intention to mine or even prospect them. Even some of the "small" time miners that have claims in areas I have been in to often have shown no presence or any sign of mining. No boundry marks.....NOTHING. So I would feel no guilt at all about swinging a detector over "their" claim. If I did swing a detector over "their" claim then it is far more than what they are doing......But then if you go ahead & get caught then you pay the price.... JW

criticol		Posted : Sunday, 13 June 2010 3:17:46 AM(UTC)
Rank: Gold Ingot Groups: Registered Joined: 14/05/2010(UTC) Posts: 234 Location: coromandel Thanks: 72 times Was thanked: 66 time(s) in 48 post(s)		Good-on you J.W.... :) My sentiments exactly!!!!!!!! These Ba-----s claim all these grounds without doing anything except wait for you or I to make a strike and then take it off us!!! I reckon that there is a real need to bring back the "MINERS RIGHT" system of the old days so that us small blokes can have a fair go at what is Virtually a privelege of our birthrights.(or whatever it should be called.) Maybe if enough of us got together, we could start a Lobbygroup, and appeal to the powers that be or appear to be??? Cheers Colin.
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gavin		Posted : Sunday, 13 June 2010 4:34:40 AM(UTC)
Rank: Gold Ingot Groups: Administrators, Registered Joined: 20/02/2010(UTC) Posts: 1,326 Location: Christchurch Thanks: 736 times Was thanked: 535 time(s) in 287 post(s)		Sounds like a real issue from bits and pieces I see in the news. I was never aware of the old rules about having to work the claim to keep it valid. Sounds like a much more sensible option! Would be nice to re-introduce something like that. Perhaps with a 6 month period of being un-worked to allow for the hobbiest claim.
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platinumblack		Posted : Sunday, 13 June 2010 7:02:28 AM(UTC)
Rank: Gold Dust Groups: Registered Joined: 23/05/2010(UTC) Posts: 3		Thanks for the great info guys. I havnt been out yet or have a detector but have always had an intrest in prospecting from a young age. I take it that when you say pay the price you are meaning giving up what you have found? I am with you on the multinationals, if they arent going to work the ground, dont put blanket claims out on vast areas, If you snooze you loose...

criticol		Posted : Sunday, 13 June 2010 12:36:08 PM(UTC)
Rank: Gold Ingot Groups: Registered Joined: 14/05/2010(UTC) Posts: 234 Location: coromandel Thanks: 72 times Was thanked: 66 time(s) in 48 post(s)		Hi guys. The Old rules used to be: Miners right. >>> Prospecting Claim. >>> Mining Claim. The New rules are: Exploration Licence. ( this can cover thousands of hectares, (if you can afford it.) It also generally keeps us all away whilst the license is in force. >>> Prospecting License. This allows one to prospect and take samples only for evaluation. >>> Mining license. This allows one to actually mine the ground claimed, ( which is usually a lot less than the areas taken out in the previous licenses. It also allows one to erect some sort of habitation on the site. To apply for a Prospecting License, grab the appropriate forms, and hire a team of lawyers !!! To apply for a Mining License, grab the appropriate forms, and hire 3 teams of lawyers !!! To-days Rules are tailor made for the big companies with lots of other peoples dollars to throw around---They are definitely not user friendly to the likes of you and me, and seem to have been deliberately designed to thwart the attempts of the single person/s to obtain one. As to the standard granted claim rulings : (NOTE::TAKEN FROM MEMORY ONLY!! as to update requires scads of time reading the current regulations, which contradict every statement in these regulations with a converse contradictory statement somewhere else in the regulations!!! This is called in modern terminology: “COVERING YOUR ARSE”.) Firstly : At “Least” 4 boundary markers are required to define the claimed area. ( To-day these are possibly Electronically added to Google map sites to make it easier for companies to claim large areas) ( somebodys got to kiss arse ehh, to invite the big boys in.) Secondly : every 6 months you have to submit to the Government Mines Department a summary of work performed on this claim---plus any assay reports from same--- and your future intentions for the site, ( sort of like predicting the future. ) I also presume that the big boys have a standard type letter for this that can be presented when required, and contains all the standard type Bull---t of doing lots of works on the sites when in fact they barely know where they are, and don’t care much anyway, as long as it keeps others out.. I also presume that the Mines dept files these away without reading them, as it keeps them in employment, and keeps these easy dollars coming in for the Government coffers. The above requirements can cost BIG Bucks! as there used to be, and I presume still is ) a hefty charge payable 6 mthly for holding the claim current.) An Important point regarding granted claims:::: You can “NOT” remove any rock/s, dirt/s or anything else from a granted claim, unless permission to do so is obtained from the holder of the license!!!!-------- Read this again!!!! All the above also applies to granted “Alluvial” river claims! Cheers---Colin. P.S. Please correct me if I`m wrong.
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x-terra steve		Posted : Sunday, 13 June 2010 3:29:29 PM(UTC)
Rank: Gold Ingot Medals: Groups: Registered Joined: 7/04/2010(UTC) Posts: 224 Location: Nelson NZ Thanks: 103 times Was thanked: 69 time(s) in 42 post(s)		Hi Colin, Good info there, well done for taking the time to post it,I think we all have learn't a thing or to. Glass Earth of any other exploration company don't stop me from swinging me detector,like JW I say stuff them and there blanket coverage of prospecting rights. I think Glass Earth has in the south around 9,000 km2 tied up. How the hell can they obtain this amount and have any real chance at making it productive?, yep money does talk!! Cheers Steve

platinumblack		Posted : Monday, 14 June 2010 1:17:12 PM(UTC)
Rank: Gold Dust Groups: Registered Joined: 23/05/2010(UTC) Posts: 3		Cheers Colin for the info. I guess the thing to do is: ask the farmers/landowners permission for access to areas and go about your hobby and have fun. Or you could work the designated areas with little luck.

kiwijw		Posted : Monday, 14 June 2010 4:19:56 PM(UTC)
Rank: Gold Ingot Groups: Registered Joined: 28/03/2010(UTC) Posts: 1,152 Thanks: 92 times Was thanked: 658 time(s) in 324 post(s)		Hi guys, Thanks all for your input & info. Land owners/managers dont have the right to give you permission to obtain minerals from "their" land. The minerals are owned by the crown no matter where it is. Our impact on the enviroment by waving a metal detector is non existent. You would be lucky to pick a taget at a depth of over one foot. Our gold isnt big enough to be found much deeper than that. To get permission from a land owner is a curtious thing & it can pay dividens as they can be more helpful with other areas to search on their land. That is if they are ok with you being there in the first place. Most are. I generaly just keep a very low profile & keep out of the publics eye. That isnt hard to do when you go to the places I go. But I do keep any eye on the permit map & keep off claimed areas. I dont know what the price you would pay would be if caught on a cliam by the claim holder. I guess you would just get a bolicking & be made to feel pretty small. At the worst I suppose they could give you a hidding & wrap your detector around a tree. I only found a half grama in the weekend as I was only up there for an hour & a half. Went checking out some other old sluiced workings. Boy were they impressive. Check these pics out. This is a google earth pic Happy hunting JW :) Edited by moderator Thursday, 17 June 2010 3:43:16 AM(UTC) \| Reason: Not specified

gavin		Posted : Sunday, 20 June 2010 12:54:36 PM(UTC)
Rank: Gold Ingot Groups: Administrators, Registered Joined: 20/02/2010(UTC) Posts: 1,326 Location: Christchurch Thanks: 736 times Was thanked: 535 time(s) in 287 post(s)		Here's a photo and map on Panoramio of the old sluice workings JW's posted about... http://www.panoramio.com/photo/24372184
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gingerbreadman		Posted : Monday, 19 July 2010 2:35:15 PM(UTC)
Rank: Gold Ingot Groups: Registered Joined: 19/07/2010(UTC) Posts: 473 Location: south of the black stump Thanks: 34 times Was thanked: 96 time(s) in 74 post(s)		Hi guys iv just joined this sight and ther seems to be a fare bit of misinformation around with regards to claims and different rules for different parts of the country etc basically any1 can get a claim you can even do the paper work your self thers no lawers involved and if you are in an area thats already proven to have had gold in the parst you can go straight for a mineing permit so once you pay for the permit the other cost is $10 per acre a year with a minium payment of $500 now ther could be other costs but that depends on were you are and weather your dredge is bigger than 150mm if you are in otago then youl be pretty much good to go.(sory guys i dont no much about detectors or highbankers etc)i feel that it is very expensive to get started in what is just a hobby and would like to see some sort of improvement to the whole system that allows the small scale fossickers-dredger and detectorists to be identified separately to the big multinationals as it stands no matter what equipment you may have once you go outside a fossicking area you may as well be a large scale miner as youl get charged like 1!!!...spreading wrong info around will not help at all so perhaps further info put up should be well researched as its easy enough to find out. cheers gbm.

criticol		Posted : Monday, 19 July 2010 5:13:47 PM(UTC)
Rank: Gold Ingot Groups: Registered Joined: 14/05/2010(UTC) Posts: 234 Location: coromandel Thanks: 72 times Was thanked: 66 time(s) in 48 post(s)		Hi GBM. You’ve got to be kidding me ? I presume from what you’ve said, that you yourself are the possessor of all the relevant permits, licenses, etc, that you mention. (or am I misinformed here too ?) Or, are you just working in a dedicated Fossiking area. As I notice that you state that, “once you go outside a fossicking area you may as well be a large scale miner as youl get charged like 1!!!…” (clarification of this remark in your case would be most welcome.) As far as I am aware. There are no “Different rules for Different parts of the country” The Mining Act of 1991, in no way states that there are. (and every part of New Zealand (and its continental waters) has to comply strictly to this Act.) Also, as far as I am aware. Just because that part of the country that you wish to mine in is “Auriferous”, I am fairly sure that there is no way that you can apply for, and be granted a Mining license straight up ? If I err over this, could you please supply the relevant information to me ? I am sure that you have to apply for a Prospecting license first, and follow the bouncing ball through all the relevant processes of the Act. As for costs to do so, you can see by the below printout that the average fossicker does not wish to be landed with these expensive charges before they can even have a go! How much do they cost? Fees for permit applications and changes (under the Crown Minerals Act 1991) Application for prospecting permit $1,600 Application for exploration permit $2,300 Application for mining permit $3,200 Annual permit fees (under the Crown Minerals Act 1991) Prospecting permit---$3.50 per sq km or part of a sq km or $500, whichever is greater Exploration permit---Initial term - $3.50 per hectare or part of a hectare or $500, whichever is greater Mining permit--------$10 per hectare or part of a hectare or $500, whichever is greater All fees are inclusive of GST. Cheers---Colin. P.S. I take notice that you are a very serious bloke, because you missed the relevant cynicism meant in reference to needing a bank of lawyers to unravel all the different and complicated rules that you need to comply with before, and after, you get a license.
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gingerbreadman		Posted : Monday, 19 July 2010 7:18:04 PM(UTC)
Rank: Gold Ingot Groups: Registered Joined: 19/07/2010(UTC) Posts: 473 Location: south of the black stump Thanks: 34 times Was thanked: 96 time(s) in 74 post(s)		Hi colin yes you are correct i do have all those permits and consents. and no you dont always have to get a prospecting/exploration permit before a mineing permit like i said if your in an area that has already proven to have a gold deposit in the parst. what i ment buy once you leave a fossicking area is that yes you are supposed to get all the permits etc and you wont get them any cheaper than a man sitting in a 10 ton digger....though sometimes those fellas have to come up with a bond. also what i ment buy different rules go,s like this...once you get get a mineing permit from the crown yes by and large you are correct..same rules though "dont quote me on that as some mineing sites my have areas of special interest" but just because you have a mineing permit does not mean you can just start mineing....that would be to easy! that is only half of the battle you must then get reasorse consent and get all other possible interested partys to sign up (inviroment, the maori,s fish & game and...doc..who can be difficult at best which is what i ment buy "different rules" who owns the land beside the river...who owns the stuff under it!! thers plenty of BS to sort out before you can just pop down the river for a bit of...fun...which is why i think your on the rite track i mean look at the cost you have listed it is correct and thers more to follow some of the other departments i listed above charge you as well!!! so good on ya....but!...people such as my self and quite a few others down here in the south island do take it a bit seriously because we dont want to take a step backwards such as what is or isnt hobby size equipment etc. so all im really trying to get out ther colin is that things need to be thoroughly lookd at before possibly opening up a can of worms. regards...gingerbreadman.

criticol		Posted : Tuesday, 20 July 2010 9:55:35 AM(UTC)
Rank: Gold Ingot Groups: Registered Joined: 14/05/2010(UTC) Posts: 234 Location: coromandel Thanks: 72 times Was thanked: 66 time(s) in 48 post(s)		Hi GBM. Thanks for that input Mate : ) I do really realize where your coming from too! Your quite correct in that “IF” something is to be achieved by all this brainstorming of suggestions, then it is only by trial and error that we will be blessed by maybe gaining some conditions that suit the Maximum amount of Fossickers? who’s hobby entails the search for, (lets say,) “Raw Gold” in its natural states. Better still if those conditions were to suit everyone involved, and this includes those who use dredges! GBM, You may be able to correctly give me an answer to the below, shall I say, uncertainty of fact! (and please note that I don’t mean any offence to anyone with my posts) But, it is still my understanding that a person cannot legally “Sell” any "Raw" gold found anywhere else in N.Z. “Unless” it has been obtained from a “Legally” registered Mining claim, or alternatively, from a designated Government controlled “Public” fossicking area. If anyone else feels that they have the correct answer to the above understanding. “Please” feel free to post a reply! Cheers--- Colin.
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gingerbreadman		Posted : Tuesday, 20 July 2010 3:49:32 PM(UTC)
Rank: Gold Ingot Groups: Registered Joined: 19/07/2010(UTC) Posts: 473 Location: south of the black stump Thanks: 34 times Was thanked: 96 time(s) in 74 post(s)		hi colin well to be honist iv never botherd to look the legality of it up as thers quite a few places that buy it rangeing from gold and bullion dealers to jewellery shops most pay cash or cash cheque they dont ask to many questions so it hasnt been a problum though like anything else it does pay to shop around. i gess that didnt exactley answer your question so perhaps thers some other members out ther that could shine some light on weather the above activity its illegal or not.

goldtimer		Posted : Wednesday, 21 July 2010 10:43:30 AM(UTC)
Rank: Gold Flake Groups: Registered Joined: 8/05/2010(UTC) Posts: 26 Location: New Zealand Thanks: 5 times Was thanked: 11 time(s) in 9 post(s)		G'day Colin, I found this in the Legislation section of the Crown minerals website: "The allocation of rights to prospect, explore or mine minerals that are owned by the Crown is carried out by the issuing of permits under the Crown Minerals Act 1991." So currently,any weekend or part time prospector who digs up some gold in an area that isn't either a fossicking area or claimed, is technically "stealing" as all of the gold is "owned" by crown minerals. Whether they're detecting, sluicing, or even just panning for gold. This is unfair, and we should probably be aiming towards a miner's right like in Australia. We could use Australia as an example as a place where a miner's right is working. Cheers :) GT

criticol		Posted : Wednesday, 21 July 2010 11:05:59 AM(UTC)
Rank: Gold Ingot Groups: Registered Joined: 14/05/2010(UTC) Posts: 234 Location: coromandel Thanks: 72 times Was thanked: 66 time(s) in 48 post(s)		GT, your a "Hero" Thank you, thank you, thank you! I knew that this was so, but could not find the appropriate reference in the time limits that I had to conduct any searching. This "Revelation" should open a few eyes, and maybe quieten down a few dissenters. My congratulations for your perseverance. Regards---Colin.
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roman holiday		Posted : Wednesday, 4 August 2010 3:30:45 PM(UTC)
Rank: Gold Ingot Groups: Registered Joined: 26/04/2010(UTC) Posts: 147 Location: Tauranga Thanks: 18 times Was thanked: 8 time(s) in 7 post(s)		goldtimer wrote: G'day Colin, I found this in the Legislation section of the Crown minerals website: "The allocation of rights to prospect, explore or mine minerals that are owned by the Crown is carried out by the issuing of permits under the Crown Minerals Act 1991." So currently,any weekend or part time prospector who digs up some gold in an area that isn't either a fossicking area or claimed, is technically "stealing" as all of the gold is "owned" by crown minerals. Whether they're detecting, sluicing, or even just panning for gold. This is unfair, and we should probably be aiming towards a miner's right like in Australia. We could use Australia as an example as a place where a miner's right is working. Cheers :) GT "Technically" being the operative word.^^ I mean, I remember reading about the guy who found a largeish nugget in the Arrow river. When he sold it, no doubt he said he found it in a legally assigned "fossicking area" but I think everyone knw\ew he found it outside of said area. Wink wink.^^

GoldnNuggz		Posted : Wednesday, 7 December 2011 7:49:13 PM(UTC)
Rank: Gold Flake Groups: Registered Joined: 2/11/2011(UTC) Posts: 25 Location: Christchurch Thanks: 4 times Was thanked: 7 time(s) in 5 post(s)		Definitely need a system in place that allows US to walk OUR land looking for the bright shiny mineral in the ground, like a miners right in Aus as suggested above... Won't happen though, we love the Corporations too much that control how we live and what we do! Its not fair and things need to change!