New Zealand has been producing gold since the 1800s. Though New Zealand is known for the mining of other materials, the country is best known for its gold production. The gold industry in New Zealand has endured many ups and down throughout its history. Much of the gold produced there today is recovered from mines near the South Island area. The fluctuation of gold prices and the world economy dictates the amount of gold produced by New Zealand as well as other countries around the world. Today New Zealand produces over 12 tons of gold each year. The biggest gold source in New Zealand today is the Macraes Mine. This mine is operated under the guidelines of New Zealand Crown Minerals. There are still smaller mines and personal claims in operation as well.
Gold was found as early as the 1830s in New Zealand. Convicts and whalers living on Beeson's Island near Coromandel Harbour reported finding gold but no one seemed to notice or acknowledge their claim. In 1852, Charles Ring made a discovery of gold at Kapanga Creek in Coromandel. Then in 1856, gold was discovered near Aorere Valley and a gold rush soon followed. Gold was found in the Waitahuna and Tuapeka Rivers in 1861. This discovery is credited to Gabriel Read. This caused a gold rush to the central Otago region. Several discoveries followed in the next few years. Most of them were centered on Marlborough and West Coast areas. The recorded amount of harvested gold in 1866 was 735,000 ounces.
Early gold mining tools in New Zealand were much like those used in other parts of the world. Mining pans were used with sluice boxes to find the gold among the rocks and gravel. Hydraulic methods were soon developed to provide pressurized water so gold could be mined in areas of high elevation. Then in 1881 on the Clutha River, the first steam powered dredges were used. The first successful commercial dredge that was used was named the Dunedin. This dredge ended up producing over 17,000 ounces of gold. By the year 1915 there were over 200 dredges in operation in New Zealand. They were mainly used in the Otago area and in the Southlands.
A new process using a cyanide solution to recover gold was introduced and as a result the Martha Mine became the largest gold producing mine in New Zealand by 1903. This mine eventually closed in 1952 after it had produced over five million ounces of gold throughout its lifespan.
After World War II gold mining in New Zealand diminished. The demand for gold fell as the demand for other mined materials grew. The New Zealand gold mining industry experienced a steady decline in productivity until gold prices surged in the mid 1970s. The New Martha mine was opened in 1988 and produced a ton of gold in the first year of operation. This renewed interest and higher prices for gold gave new life to New Zealand's mines. By the year 1995, production of gold in New Zealand reached 390,000 ounces or 12 tons.
If you are planning to visit New Zealand you can experience a taste of what gold mining was like in the 1800s. Shantytown is located near Greymouth and is a replica of a 1860s West Coast gold mining town. They have over thirty historical buildings, mining artifacts, and walking trails first used by miners of the 1860s. They also have gift shops and a playground for the kids. While you are there you can also take a ride on a steam train or pan for gold. You can find Shanty Town on Rutherglen Road, Greymouth, 7870, Westland, New Zealand.
