In New Zealand and some other countries - fossicking is prospecting, especially when carried out as a recreational activity. This can be for gold, precious stones, fossils, etc. by sifting through a prospective area.
Here you will find information where you can fossick for material which is not located on private property but along beaches, streams or other public areas.
Remeber
you cannot fossick on private property without the property owners permission - you maybe tresspassed or worse still taken to court.
you cannot pan for gold in areas that are under mining licence - unless you have permission from the owner of that licence and or the landowner.
collecting material in National Parks is also not permited.
collecting of pounamu (Greenstone) Public Fossicking Ngai Tahu recognises that fossicking for small amounts of pounamu is an important cultural activitiy for all New Zealanders. Public fossicking for pounamu is allowed on the beaches of Te Tai o Poutini (the West Coast of the South Island) and is limited to what an individual can carry on their person or backpack within a 24 hour period – this means what an individual can physically lift by themselves and take unaided to their mode of transport and the key is ‘can carry’ on their person. For more information about collect pounamu please see the pdf Ponamu below.
collecting from historic sites is also not permited if you find any pre european material you must take it to your local museum or the nearest DOC office if it was found on DOC land. For more information please go to :