Our Story

Polish & Pan is a family-run business, co-founded by local Hokitika builder Brook Robinson, and located in the heart of Pounamu country on New Zealand's beautiful West Coast. Our vision is to create an authentic West Coast experience that visitors would remember long after they returned home.

After years of travelling and working throughout New Zealand and overseas, Brook returned home to Hokitika with a desire to build something that celebrated the unique treasures of the West Coast. He saw an opportunity to create an experience where visitors could do more than simply buy a souvenir—they could discover the stories, history and craftsmanship behind two of the region's most iconic treasures: West Coast gold and Pounamu.

Our Family Legacy

Nowhere else in New Zealand can you pan for gold with your own hands, then hold jewellery made from that same gold, all in one place. We're bringing an experience — shaped by generations on this coast — you won't find anywhere else.

Polish & Pan

Long before Polish & Pan opened its doors, this family was already part of the Coast's story. Generations of gold mining ran through their blood, out on the rivers, learning the land the way only those who work it can. That same connection — to the rock, the river, the raw material — carries through today, shaped now into pounamu carving and gold panning experiences for anyone who wants a piece of that story for themselves.

Made of Gold

Made of Gold grew from the same ground. Where Polish & Pan carves stone and pans gold, Made of Gold shapes gold and silver — sourced from that same West Coast legacy, into jewellery inspired by the landscapes it comes from. Still family-run, still rooted in the same story.

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Meet Our Team

  • Brook Robinson | Co-Owner & Carver

    I’ve always been drawn to jade: its beauty, its history, and the way a rough piece can be shaped into something meaningful. That passion grew stronger over the years, and eventually I knew I wanted to share both traditions with others.

    After more than a decade as a qualified carpenter, I brought all those skills together to create Polish & Pan — an immersive space where people can experience real West Coast gold panning and carve their own jade piece. I personally rebuilt the entire workshop at 20 Weld Street, crafting a place that reflects the heritage, creativity, and hard work that shaped my family and my life.

  • Scott "Millsy" Mills | Lead Experience Tutor & Carver

    Born and bred in Hokitika, Pounamu has always been a significant part of my life and culture. I whakapapa to Makaawhio, Ngāti Waewae, and Ngāti Apa, and growing up in the heart of Pounamu country has given me a deep respect and connection to this treasured taonga.

    At Polish & Pan, I love helping visitors create their own taonga, guiding them through the process of transforming a raw piece of Pounamu into something deeply personal and meaningful. Alongside teaching others, I also take pride in carefully carving and finishing premium Pounamu pieces for our online store, creating taonga that will find their way to their next kaitiaki.

  • Kelly Hauraki | Front of House & Binder

    I’ve called the West Coast home on and off since I was 12, and thanks to my dad being a pounamu carver, I’ve been surrounded by pounamu and its stories for well over a decade.

    I love working with a fantastic team and getting to meet so many people along the way.ability, style, or even provide a review.

  • Shaun Drylie | Co-Owner & Director

    I spent 35 years in banking before shifting focus to mobility sustainability and advisory work — always putting people, service, and experience first. I co-own the Hokitika land where the gold is mined and co-own Made of Gold, and though Christchurch is where I live, I refer to Hokitika as "home."