The Brokenwood Mysteries

Jane Fergusson is gold‑panning in the remote region of the Brokenwood River when she is shot. Detectives discover that the Fergusson clan has been locked in a gold‑related feud with the Holland family since the 1860s, a rivalry that has spanned generations.

Good as Gold is a television programme classified as an episode, presenting a concise, self‑contained story. The title suggests a focus on gold‑related intrigue, and the format is that of a single‑episode narrative rather than an ongoing series. It follows the conventions of a crime‑drama, delivering a complete plot within its runtime. The central incident occurs when Jane Fergusson, a member of the long‑standing Fergusson family, is gold‑panning on the banks of the Brokenwood River. While she is engaged in the search for placer gold, she is shot, leaving her mortally wounded. The sudden violence triggers a police investigation that quickly shifts focus from the crime scene to the family's history. Detectives soon discover that the Fergusson clan has been embroiled in a bitter rivalry with the Holland family for more than a century. Records and oral histories reveal that the dispute over gold claims began in the 1860s, when both families first laid claim to the mineral‑rich stretches of the river. This historic animosity provides a potential motive for the shooting. The episode therefore juxtaposes a modern act of violence with a legacy of competition that dates back to the gold‑rush era. By tracing the present crime back to the 1860s feud, the story underscores how the pursuit of gold continues to shape relationships and fuel conflict along the Brokenwood River.