Liger Academy students have developed a new digital timing system, which will be tested for the first time at the New Zealand Gold Panning Championships during Alexandra’s Blossom Festival at Pioneer Park on Saturday, September 28.

This year’s New Zealand Gold Panning Championships, organised by the Otago Goldfields Heritage Trust (OGHT), are being treated as a run through prior to the World Gold Panning Championships to be held in Central in 2026.

OGHT events coordinator Terry Davis said entries were as expected but they would be introducing a lot of people to gold panning on the day.

“Gold panning is truly one of the sports where age, physical ability and gender doesn’t come into it.”

The event has various categories for entrants under 13, under 16, men, women, veteran and then all winners fight it out to become the grand champion.

“Anyone can take home that title. We’ve had to go to a 14-year-old girl, and then a 70 year old gentleman. It’s inclusive and everyone can take part.”

Terry said there was a measured amount of gravel per bucket.

These are “salted” with pellets of gold and competitors are judged on how fast they sluice their gravel and how many pellets they find. 

“The gold panners don't know how many pieces of gold there are.”

Terry said the winners will finish up in around one and a half minutes and discover the correct number of pieces of gold. 

“An average person might take three minutes, and if you’re slow five minutes.

“There is a one minute penalty added if you miss a bit of gold.”

Competitors can expect to get their shorts a little wet from splashing, and can bring their own gold pan if they have one, otherwise they can be borrowed on the day.

The New Zealand Gold Panning Championship panning heats start from 10am, and registration is from 9am. Prizes are up for grabs and children are welcome to join in the fun with the ‘stake your claim’ raffle.