Record high gold prices have prompted hobby prospectors to dust off spades and pans and head to South Island rivers in the hope of striking it lucky.
The precious metal recently hit NZ$3000 an ounce, as global investors look to safer bets in shaky economic times.
Seasoned fossickers told RNZ Nelson reporter Tracy Neal, there's as much chance of finding a mortgage-busting nugget as winning $50 million in Lotto.
