New Zealand has been a significant producer of gold for over a century. Total recorded production is over 850 tonnes. There were three major periods of production: the first and biggest was between 1860 and 1880, the second was between 1895 and 1920 and the third was between 1930 and 1945. After 1945 gold production fell continually until 1980 when the major upward adjustment in gold price led to renewed interest._x000D_
There have been important new developments in each of the known gold-rich areas: Westland, Otago and Coromandel and exploration for gold in these areas and in previously unprospected regions has reached unprecedented levels.