Recovered items

Posting a memory almost to the day 5 years ago. Kelvin proposed to Cjantra a week ago on the beach. The ring was Kelvin's Grandmother's and was sentimental. Unfortunately, there was a hiccup and the ring was dropped in the sand. She still said Yes! I was contacted via the local newspaper as Helen, Kelvins Nana had remembered an article about a previous ring recovery I'd made. Kelvin provided a good description of the area and after a couple of calls from the beach, we narrowed it down and success. I've told Kelvin he needs to re enact the proposal and get the ring on Cjantra's finger this time but not on a beach, a large concrete pad should do. All the best to this lovely couple. Ring Finder, Mark E Whitianga, NZ.

I received a call to track down a lost ring that had vanished while kindling was being packed from a plastic storage container, or possibly somewhere along a nearby fence line. We began the search inside the small shed where the container was stored. Before long, my detector locked onto a solid signal coming from the container itself. After a thorough check, the ring wasn't inside, which meant it had to be hiding underneath. We moved the container and a few other items out of the way, and there it was—the missing ring, sitting exactly where it had slipped from sight. Another successful recovery completed, and another happy owner reunited with their treasured ring. Until the next adventure! Juan

["On Sunday night, Diego visited the sauna at Worser Bay and removed his sterling silver chain with a chunky solid insert— a piece with HUGE sentimental value. After cooling off with a plunge into the ocean, he later realised the chain had been forgotten in his pocket and lost in the water. Water recoveries are always among the hardest jobs. They are real needle-in-a-haystack searches, especially at Worser Bay where items can sink quickly into the soft sand. After getting the call, I worked out the approximate location and checked the tide conditions from when the chain was lost. That gave me a good idea of where it may have settled. I headed down during my lunch break with my waders, scoop, and detector. After around an hour searching in chest-deep water, I picked up a scratchy 91 signal on the Deus — exactly the kind of signal chains often give. One scoop later, Diego’s chain was back where it belonged. It is always an incredible feeling to reunite someone with something that means so much to them. Happy to help, Diego! Andrew H"]

Got a text message from Sammy — she was hoping that I could help her find a gold bangle her 3-year-old had lost in the garden during a birthday party more than a year ago. She also lost a black pearl bracelet, but unfortunately, that one wasn't metal. I met her at the house and we headed to the backyard, where the party had been. She pointed out a small patch of grass where the bouncy castle had been set up. Honestly, I told her the chances were low. The area wasn’t huge, but still — a piece of jewelry like that could be anywhere. I fired up the detector, swept over the grass — and suddenly, a loud, booming tone rang out. Could it really be? I dug up a small patch, broke it apart gently, and there it was — the gold bangle! Sammy was over the moon. I was just as surprised. Moments like that remind me why I do this — not just for the finds, but for the stories and the smiles. Ian

["This morning during a meeting, I could feel my phone vibrating in my pocket an unusual number of times. Once the meeting ended, I checked my messages and found several from a young lady named Preeti. She had lost a ring that was very precious to her — a gift from her mother. Earlier in the day, Preeti had been gardening at home, pulling weeds and frequently removing her gardening gloves. Partway through the job, she realised the ring was missing. I replied to say the earliest I could get there would be after work, around 5:30pm, which was also close to sunset. I arrived shortly after sunset, switched on my headlamp, and Preeti showed me the area where she had been working. After scanning the garden bed for a few moments without any target signals, I began searching alongside the garden on the grass. Preeti had left her gardening gloves on the lawn as a marker to show where she had stopped working. As I swung the detector over the gloves, I got a signal. One of the family members picked the gloves up while I scanned the grass again — silence. I asked them to place the gloves back down, and immediately the detector signalled again. Preeti checked inside the glove and found the missing ring tucked within it. She was overjoyed and explained that the gloves were actually the first place she had looked, but she hadn’t been able to feel the ring inside. Most of her day had been spent searching through the garden bed. In the end, Preeti was extremely happy to be reunited with her treasured ring.😁 🎉🥳 Deon D"]

["Hi Ian! Juan came and found my engagement ring this evening at the beach. I lost it just as we were leaving the beach when I shook my blanket and it came off. I searched for 20 minutes with other people who were kind enough to help me when they saw me looking for something. It was very upsetting having to leave the beach without it. Thank you so much Juan for finding it so quickly and being prompt at meeting my partner at the beach to search for it. It was found in less than 30 seconds, amazing! Eve Marie"]

["In early 2025, during an ordinary day at Glen Massey School, Detectorists Benjamin and Dane were hunting when they found something special in the dirt ⛏️. What they lifted was small, delicate, and clearly loved once: a tiny heart-shaped signet 💍. On the front, a single name—“Niki.” On the back, a message engraved with tender certainty: “Love Mum and Dad, 1987.” ❤️ It was the kind of inscription that stops you for a moment. Whose tiny hand once wore this? 🤔 Where had it been all these years? And what was the story behind those carefully chosen words? That moment sparked a year-long search 🔍. Posts went out through the Glen Massey community Facebook page 📱. Messages were shared with the school 🏫. Fast-forward twelve months ⏳. One evening, scrolling through old posts, community member Jolene Jones noticed the photo of the little heart signet. Something about it caught her 👀. She reached out, made a few connections, and suddenly—after a year of waiting—Niki had been found 🙌. And now, step back in time… It was 1987 📆. A twelve-year-old girl named Niki was celebrating her birthday 🎂. Her step-mum and dad handed her a small box 🎁—inside lay a delicate heart-shaped signet ring 💍, her name engraved on the front. It wasn’t expensive, but it meant everything ❤️. It was the only truly special gift they’d ever given her. With big smiles, they told her, “This ring is special, every time you look at your ring 💍 you’ll know how much we love you ok, now look we had your name put on the ring 💍& your birthstone. Never lose this ring" And Niki believed them. She treasured it instantly 💖. She didn’t want to take it off—not even for a moment. But only weeks later, while playing near the Glen Massey School playground 🏫, she felt a sudden emptiness on her finger. The ring was gone. She searched until the sun melted behind the hills 🌄. She looked again the next morning. And again after school. But the small silver heart had vanished. The loss left a mark on her—because it wasn’t just jewellery. It was a memory of her family 👨‍👩‍👧. A symbol of love ❤️. And over time, the little ring became a story she carried quietly inside her. Niki lived in Glen Massey from age six to eighteen, her home just across the road from the school where the ring slipped away. Her father has since passed 🕊️, making that tiny signet ring one of the few precious tokens of his love. And now—decades later— It has found its way back ✨"]

["Another call-out, this time to Whangaparāoa to help Astrid track down a missing ring. The story was one of those all-too-familiar (and slightly heart-stopping) ones — her young daughter had been into the jewellery box and decided to play. Unfortunately, that included Astrid’s engagement ring… which was then thrown off the deck into the backyard. As is often the case with a young child, there was a bit of confusion around what had actually happened, and after some contradictory comments from her daughter, it seemed the ring could have ended up anywhere in the yard. This wasn’t just any ring either. It had been specially designed by Astrid and her partner as a replacement for an earlier one that had fallen apart, so there was a fair bit of meaning tied up in it. Arriving on site, I was told the grass was quite deep — but to be fair, it was actually very manageable and a lot shorter than I’d been expecting, which gave me a bit of confidence. About 15 minutes in, I got a solid target and recovered a gold ring from the grass. For a moment, it felt like we’d nailed it… but unfortunately, it wasn’t the one we were after. I carried on searching for a couple more hours, but this time the ring wasn’t to be found. Sometimes the rings we find aren’t the ones we set out looking for. That’s just how it goes with this sort of thing. Maybe it’s still hiding there, waiting for another go — I wouldn’t rule out a return visit yet. Matt N"]

I had been camping in Tawharanui on Sunday, 22nd March, at around 12:30 pm. I was on the main beach and took my ring off, along with my watch, before going for a swim. I left them wrapped in my towel beside the rope line that separates the small dune area near the walkways from the beach.

After my swim, I picked up my towel, shirt, and watch and walked back along the beach toward the campground. I didn't realise I hadn't put my ring back on until I was about 50 metres down the beach.

The ring is white gold and very special to me - it has my four children's names etched around the outside edge, and mine and their mother's names on the inside. It was made five years ago by my ex-wife's father, who has since passed away. Because of that, the ring carries a lot of meaning - not just for me, but also for my ex-wife and our four children. It's one of the few things that still connects us all to him.

When I realised it was gone, I was devastated. Weeks passed, and I hadn't told my children - I was scared to, knowing how much it meant to all of us. The weight of that loss sat heavily with me, and in the end, it was my current partner who encouraged me to reach out and do something about it rather than give up hope.

I had attached a Google Maps image highlighting where I believed I had lost it, somewhere above the high tide mark.

Although a few weeks had passed, I was put in touch with Matt, who had actually already headed out to the beach to search. I was worried I might be wasting his time, but I felt it had to still be there.

Amazingly, it was - and I was able to get it back.

I truly can't thank you enough, especially Matt. Your help means more than I can say.

["I recently lost a very special ring while gardening — a gift from my husband for my 60th birthday. With him now in care, losing it felt like yet another emotional blow. Hoping for a miracle, I reached out to New Zealand Ring Finder. Ian kindly arranged for Alisa to come and help search. She came twice, and on her second visit, she found my ring within about 10 minutes. I’m absolutely over the moon and so incredibly grateful. Thank you for bringing a little piece of joy back to me 💛 Kindest Regards, Annette & Phil"]

["I met the owner at Mission Bay after learning he had lost a ring that meant a great deal to him—an heirloom passed down from his deceased brother. He showed me the area where he believed it had been lost, but knowing how water movement and tides can shift objects, I expanded the search zone. Since the ring had been lost while he was in the water, there was a strong chance it had been carried by waves or current. After scanning the upper portion of the expanded area, I moved downslope and began picking up broken tones on the detector. I decided to focus there. After a couple of scoops, the signal was still in the hole, so I used my pinpointer to narrow it down. That’s when I caught a glint of gold peeking through the shells. In the three to four days since the ring had been lost, it had settled nearly five inches beneath the sand. I turned, smiled, and said, “You must be the luckiest guy around.” He replied, “I just finished saying a prayer that you’d find it.” Matt N"]

["After our wedding just two weeks ago, I lost my platinum wedding band while swimming at Narrow Neck Beach on Christmas Day. After spending the evening at low tide with a garden rake and no luck, I was gutted and thought I might never see it again. My wife then found the NZ Ring Finder Facebook page, so I gave them a call on Boxing Day. Ian quickly organised for Matthew to come down, and with his metal detector he found my ring within 25 minutes! I honestly couldn’t believe it. I’m so incredibly grateful to be reunited with my ring and can’t thank Ian and Matthew enough. Very thankful for this amazing community of talented people who are willing to help others out ❤️ Tom"]

After a busy weekend, I was driving back toward Auckland along the Bombay Hills when I came across a message about a lost ring. A young man had dropped it while carrying groceries up a set of stairs, and it had disappeared into the surrounding garden foliage.

After contacting him, I arrived and was given a brief explanation of where he believed the ring had fallen. I began searching the garden beneath the stairs. The ring was an heirloom - given to him by his father - a graduation ring from an American school many years ago. It carried deep sentimental value, making its loss especially devastating.

As I started the search, it was clear the task wouldn't be easy. In dense undergrowth like that, the ring could have been anywhere - an inch away or completely out of sight. The area had already been searched, but without the right equipment, it was easy to miss something so small.

Just two minutes in, I caught a faint glint beneath some crushed vegetation. It was subtle - something that could easily be overlooked - but there it was.

I turned to him and said, 'You must be very lucky,' as I picked the ring out of the undergrowth and handed it back.

The relief and joy on his face said it all.

Another great find - and a real pleasure to be able to make someone so happy.

Sunday morning, Ian put out the call for a ring rescue in the Te Pahu area. A couple from Hamilton, Leo and Kaela, had been swimming at a popular spot along the Kaniwhaniwha Track and lost Kaela’s engagement ring. I know the area well, so I jumped on it and got in touch with Leo to narrow down the location. I’ll admit—this was my first proper water detect, and I didn’t exactly have the ideal gear… just a pair of goggles and determination. But I figured it was worth a shot! When I arrived, the place was packed—people doing manus off the bridge and enjoying the water. I wasn’t sure how it would go, but everyone was great about it. I started scanning and was picking up a few signals—mostly hot rocks and the odd token. I pushed out to about 7 feet deep, but the water got too murky, so I turned back. Just as I was about to call it, I decided to try one more pass from a different angle. Waist-deep, I got a solid 14–15 signal on the Nox. Down I went with the pinpointer, digging into the sand—and boom 💥 there it was! Honestly, I was shaking like a chihuahua in the rain 😅 I contacted Leo and asked for a photo to confirm—and sure enough, it was Kaela’s ring. The relief and excitement were unreal, and their gratitude made it even more special. Another happy ending—and a first water recovery in the books! 😎 Garth

["I was at home when I got a referral from another metal detecting page saying that Emerson had been swimming and had just lost her gold diamond ring — a ring she’d had since she was 13. I gave her a quick call and was able to meet her at the beach straight away since it was just down the road. The tide wasn’t in our favour, so I explained I’d need to come back once it dropped. A few hours later I returned to the same spot. Emerson had said they weren’t far out when the ring slipped off, and that they were close to the swimmers still in the water. I started the search just below the wet sand, picking up the usual junk… then a crisp, promising tone — but it turned out to be just a sinker. As the tide caught up to me, I grabbed my waders. About 20 minutes in, a friend arrived to help. While he was getting changed, I was feeling a bit frustrated because I’d already covered the main area. I decided to crisscross the section I’d just searched, and soon enough I hit another sinker-like signal. I walked up onto the dry sand with a scoop full of sand, spread it out… and there it was — a ring glinting right back at me. Gold. A closer look confirmed it: I’d found her ring. I sent her a picture and a quick “Happy day!” She replied almost instantly: “Oh my goodness!! YES — thank you so much!” A few days later, she picked it up and the ring was finally back where it belongs. Another happy recovery! 🥳🔍💍

Ian S

#goldring #xpdeus2 #found"]

["We had a call from a client who outlined a situation that required the services of our ringfinders team. The gentleman told the story of issues with his property, which resulted in the need for tarpaulins covering the ground that were held down with large wire staples. It seemed that when the tarps were removed, there was a few staples that seemed left behind. One of our team accepted the task that was offered, an opportunity to have a break from finding gold and silver, to give the property a 'going over' to provide the owner with a level of satisfaction that there were few (if any) staples left. After going over the property for many hours, the owner had a level of comfort that we had not only met his expectations but exceeded them. We removed hundreds of metal staples, some of which were protruding out of the ground like traps waiting for an unsuspecting foot. We are pleased to be a part of property cleanup such as this helping clients to make their property safe. Matt N"]

["Manoj dropped his ring as he was getting ready to leave the beach yesterday. And although his wife and him spent some time combing the area, they didn't find it. After a call to New Zealand Ring Finder, our man on the spot met Manoj and outlined the search area. After only about 4 minutes going over the area, Matt located the ring tone, and bent down to pick up the clump of sand containing the ring. Manoj was extatic to see the shine of the gold as the heavy ring was returned to his waiting hand. The detectorist puts the speedy find down to the good description from the client. Another successful recovery From Matthew on the Hibiscus Coast"]

["We received a call from a Mother who’s daughter was playing in a sand pit in her preschool. Unfortunately the childs 9carat bracelet had come off and became buried in the sand. Search attempts had not uncovered the bracelet, and Sera contacted New Zealand Ring finder. Matt was dispatched to the area, and started searching. Ring finder jobs are never straightforward, and the same could be said for a small area of sand. There were a lot of false positives, with a metallic base to the sandpit and a number of items which were barely discernable. After covering the area where the item was reported to be, he continued to scan the area, and after another 15-20 minutes, he noticed the bracelet as it started to gleam into view. The bracelet was reunited with the pair who were extremely grateful to have their sentimental item returned"]