New Zealand has been producing gold since the 1800s. Although New Zealand is known for the extraction of other materials, the country is best known for its gold production. The gold industry in New Zealand has experienced ups and downs throughout its history. Much of the gold produced there today is recovered in the mining area near the South Island. Fluctuating gold prices and the global economy determines the amount of gold produced by New Zealand and other countries around the world. Today, New Zealand produces more than 12 tonnes of gold each year. The largest source of gold in New Zealand is now the Macraes mine. The mine is operated under the guidelines of the New Zealand Crown Minerals. There are even smaller mines and claims and personal service.
Gold was found in the 1830s in New Zealand. Convicts and whalers who live on the island Beeson, near Coromandel Harbour has reported the discovery of gold, but nobody seems to realize or recognize their claims. In 1852, Charles Ring made a discovery of gold in Coromandel Kapanga Creek. Then in 1856, gold was discovered near Aorere Valley and a gold rush soon followed. Gold was found in the Tuapeka Waitahuna and Rivers in 1861. This discovery is credited to Gabriel Read. This caused a rush for gold in Central Otago. Several discoveries followed in the coming years. Most of them were focused on Marlborough and West Coast. The notional amount of gold collected in 1866 was 735,000 ounces.
Early gold mining tools in New Zealand were very similar to those used in other parts of the world. pans were used in mines sluice to find gold in rocks and gravel. hydraulic methods were quickly developed to provide water under pressure to gold could be extracted in high altitude areas. Then in 1881 on the Clutha River, the first steam powered dredges were used. The first commercially successful dredge that was used was named Dunedin. This dredge has ended up producing over 17,000 ounces of gold. In the year 1915 there were over 200 dredgers in operation in New Zealand. They were mainly used in Otago and Southland.
A new method using cyanide solution to recover gold was introduced and, in consequence of the Martha Mine became the largest producing gold mine in New Zealand in 1903. The mine was finally closed in 1952 after having produced over 5,000,000 ounces of gold over its entire lifetime.
After World War II, gold mines in New Zealand declined. Demand for gold has declined, demand for other extracted materials increased. Industry New Zealand gold mining has experienced a steady decline in productivity until the price of gold has 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 rising gold prices has given new life to the mines of New Zealand. In the year 1995, gold production in New Zealand has reached 390,000 ounces or 12 tonnes.
If you plan to visit New Zealand you can experience a taste of what the gold mines was, as in the 1800s. Slum is situated close to Greymouth and is a replica of a city on the West Coast of the 1860s gold mining. They have over thirty historic buildings, traditional mining, and walking trails first used by miners in the 1860s. They also have gift shops and a playground for children. While you're 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
