Our Story

Over the years, many have been lured to the West Coast of New Zealand in search of treasure.

And they’ve gone to great lengths to find it.

They’ve moved mountains. Redirected rivers. Dragged nets. Grown grass. And gone deep underground. 

Fortunes were made. Fortunes were lost.

And those who stayed in this beautiful yet brutal part of the world had to be made of some pretty tough stuff.

So, what are we made of?

We’re made of the bush, mountains and water.
We’re made of the past, present and future.
We’re made of provenance, legacy and design.

We are Made of Gold.

Our Values

Trusted for our dedication to sustainably crafting heirloom pieces that uphold the values of this place that inspires us.

Design

We craft jewellery that aims to capture the essence of the West Coast, a rugged and beautiful part of the world. From the grand mountains, and dense native bush to the winding rivers and glistening lakes, our designs reflect the richness and rawness of this landscape. Our founding designer, Holly Schröder, has made a name for herself as an artist and has the West Coast in her veins.

Legacy

We craft pieces to commemorate life's special moments that can be passed down through generations. We collaborate with our West Coast community to honour the past, treasure the present and invest in the future. We believe in the Maori principle of Kaitiakitanga, where we are guardians of the natural and physical world – if we look after our environment, it will look after us.

Provenance

Our commitment to authenticity ensures your gold's journey is meticulously traced from the ‘land to your hand’. Our West Coast gold is ethically sourced through ecological and small-scale mining practices from miners we personally know. It is then refined at the Awa Gold refinery, right here on the Coast. You can therefore trust the heritage it carries.

Our History

Guided by generations of Coasters that have come before us.

1864

This was the year the West Coast witnessed a gold discovery along Greenstone Creek near the Taramakau River.

This pivotal event unfolded when Ihaia Tainui and Haimona Taukau, Māori individuals, unexpectedly uncovered gold beneath a massive pounamu boulder. The news of this valuable find rapidly circulated, leading to an influx of prospectors flocking to the area.

Image | The Greenstone - Historic Goldmining Settlement - Deceased.

1865–67

Gold fever intensified as new deposits were uncovered in Ōkārito, Bruce Bay, Charleston, and along the Grey River.

During this period the population of the West Coast exploded from less than 500 people to over 30,000 in the space of only a few years. Miners, and entrepreneurs were eager to capitalise on the newfound wealth.

1868–1920's

Gold fever takes a dip

The initial fever began to wane, signalling the decline of the gold rush. But despite the end of the rushes and all that initial excitement, alluvial gold mining continued on the West Coast.

Photo | Rimu Flat near Hokitika, potentially on some of the land owned by Made of Gold. This was the largest Dredge at that time in New Zealand, 23rd February 1922

1980's

Mining activity on the Coast has been driven by the gold price.

Mining activity on the Coast has been driven by the gold price. In the 1980’s mining activity increased and land that was previously not viable was (re)mined.

Photo | Activity by Goliath Mining, Western end of Adair’s Road Hokitika (close to Made of Gold’s mine of today). ca.1980s

2016

With the recent spike in gold prices, mining activity on the West Coast has increased

In 2016 the owners of Made of Gold acquired land on the Rimu Flats. This land is currently being mined by two family-owned contracting firms, who between them directly employ over 30 workers. Gold mining on the Coast is a significant contributor to the Coast GDP and provides the highest average earnings to workers of any industry. Previously unusable land is developed into productive land.

Watch the Rimu Flats feature on the Discovery Channel's 'Gold Rush' series

Photo | Iain Whyte, owner of Whyte Contracting, with Parker Schnabel from the Discovery Channel Gold Rush fame, who was impressed with the operation

Today

Our owners, Shaun and Susan, Maria and Brent

Family owned, Shaun and Maria are brother and sister, by Coasters who have a love for the Coast and its people. Brent Robinson and Susan Drylie (nee Hughes), both born and bred Coasters, have gold dust in their veins. Brent’s passion for gold began when he worked after school driving machinery for his dad and 3 uncles in their contracting business. After qualifying as an Engineer, he then worked full-time on his father’s mines. Brent now oversees the mine today. Two of Susan’s great great grandfathers (Thomas Hughes and Jo Chee) were involved in the original Otago Gold rush in the 1860’s.

Photo | Shaun and Susan Drylie, our Luminaries Holly, Katie and Rosie, Maria and Brent Robinson