Collection & Stewardship Pathways & Programmes
Whether a collection was built across a lifetime of scientific study, decades of rockhounding adventures, gathered on family beach walks, or acquired through quiet moments of travel — every stone carries a story and reflects a unique relationship with the Earth.
At Solaria, we believe that every mineral and specimen has a pathway that deserves to be honoured. From dedicated collectors with historically significant specimens to rockhounds with sheds full of local finds, we endeavour to offer a respectful pathway for every collector and every stone.
We warmly accept donated collections of small to medium size. As Solaria grows, our capacity will expand—allowing us to welcome larger collections, offer financial contributions, and utilise garden or lapidary-grade rocks within our broader community spaces and workshops.
Through our programmes, we offer respectful pathways that preserve stories, honour the journeys of both collector and specimen, and ensure these remarkable pieces of the Earth continue to educate, inspire and connect future generations.
Finding the Right Pathway
Every collection is unique.
Some people hope to preserve an important collection as part of Solaria's long-term stewardship. Others simply wish to find a meaningful future for stones they are ready to pass on.
Whether your collection is large or small, old or new, carefully curated or gathered over years of exploration, we welcome the opportunity to learn its story and discuss the most appropriate pathway.
There is no single solution for every collection, and there doesn't need to be. Together we can explore what feels right—for you, for your collection and for Solaria. When a collection enters our care, it is treated with meticulous detail and quiet devotion - view our Care Process here to see an example of just one of our donated collections.
No matter where you are in your journey, connecting with us is the first step >> email Amanda hello@searsco.nz
1. COLLECTION STEWARDSHIP
Preserving collections for future generations.
For collectors wishing to entrust all or part of their collection to Solaria's long-term stewardship through our formal pathway. Whether your collection holds historical, scientific, educational or deeply personal significance, our aim is to honour its story while preserving it for future learning, research and appreciation.
2. REHOME A STONE / ADOPT A ROCK
Helping treasured stones begin a new chapter.
For individual stones and collections ready to be donated to Solaria. Depending on their suitability, specimens may become part of Solaria's collection, support educational programmes, or be thoughtfully offered through the Adopt a Rock programme, where they continue their journey with a new custodian. Every adoption directly supports the ongoing development of Solaria.
"What some might view as simple rocks, we hold with deep appreciation and reverence."
1. COLLECTION STEWARDSHIP PROGRAMME
What This Programme Is
The Solaria Collection Stewardship Programme is a formal pathway for rock, crystal, and mineral collections to be gifted or donated to Solaria — ensuring they are preserved, documented, and shared with the community rather than discarded, dispersed or lost.
When the time comes for a collection to find a new home — whether through downsizing, life change, or the transition of an estate — Solaria offers something rare: a place that will receive it with the same care (or better) than it was given.
This is not a casual drop-off. It is a considered process, supported by formal paperwork, carried out with full transparency and respect for the collection and the person behind it.
Who Is This For?
This programme is designed for:
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Collectors who are downsizing, moving, or ready to pass their collection on
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Families managing the estate of a loved one who collected rocks, minerals, or crystals
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Estate planners and legal professionals seeking a meaningful home for a client's collection
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Anyone who simply knows it is time for their collection to continue somewhere it will be truly valued
We welcome collections of all kinds — everyday rocks and beach finds, polished crystals, labelled mineral specimens, fossils, pounamu, and curated collections with provenance and history. Small to medium collections are warmly welcomed. Larger collections are considered on a case by case basis due to current space.
What Happens to Collections?
Collections received by Solaria are:
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Formally documented under a Contribution Agreement
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Kept together as a named collection where possible
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Stored with care and environmental responsibility
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Attributed to the collector, with their story honoured, if desired
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Integrated into Solaria's museum, educational spaces, gallery, or displays as we grow
Collections are received as gifts or donations. Solaria is not currently in a position to purchase collections, though this may change in future.
*You can view an example of the collection process for the Lyall Collection below.
The Paperwork
All contributions are received under Solaria's formal documentation, including a Contribution Agreement and Transfer of Ownership form. These documents protect both the contributor and the collection, and give clear guidance on display preferences, attribution, cultural considerations, and future care. Documents are available on request — simply get in touch to begin the conversation.
Get in Touch
If you have a collection ready to find a new home, or you work with individuals who might, we'd love to hear from you. There is no pressure and no rush — just an open door.
Email Amanda at hello@searsco.nz
Our Care Process + Example
We have a proven record of care with donated collections. Once received, specimens are cleaned gently and appropriately if needed, placed into new storage containers if required, then catalogued in the Solaria digital database — photographed, measured, weighed, and loaded on our website for the people to enjoy from anywhere in the world. For unidentified specimens we work to identify them and if possible, match them to a locality, drawing on our connections in the geology and mineralogy world.
THE LYALL COLLECTION
Here is an example of a beloved collection that changed hands over time, eventually finding its way to Solaria.
The Lyall Collection arrived in an old, damp cherry box. After Sheila Lyall's passing in 2013, her son Mike kept it safe for years — knowing it was special, but unsure where it belonged. He was relieved to finally find a home for it at Solaria. Mike recalls that Sheila herself was given the collection by an older man many years before her passing. Some specimens were still labelled and wrapped in cellophane, showing their age. They had come from all over the world.
We cleaned, repackaged, photographed, and documented them all. They are now viewable on the Solaria website, with further identification planned once we bring in a specialist geologist.
2. REHOME A STONE / ADOPT A ROCK
What This Programme Is
Rehome a Stone / Adopt a Rock is a gentle invitation to honour stones and minerals as companions rather than commodities. Whether gathered during a lifetime of travel, discovered while rockhounding, inherited from a loved one, or simply no longer displayed or needed, this programme offers a respectful pathway for specimens to continue their journey.
Some stones become part of Solaria's growing collection, Living Library, educational resources or exhibitions. Others are thoughtfully offered through our Adopt a Rock programme, where they find a new home with someone who will continue to appreciate and care for them. Every adoption directly supports the ongoing development of Solaria, helping create a place where people can experience the beauty, science and wonder of the mineral kingdom.
Every stone is received with care, gratitude and respect—for the specimen itself, and for the journey that brought it here.
Suitable for
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Individual stones, crystals, rocks and fossils
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Small personal collections
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Travel souvenirs and meaningful finds
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Inherited specimens
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Minerals no longer displayed or needed
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Specimens looking for a meaningful new chapter
Ways to Participate
Rehome a Stone
You may offer stones or minerals that:
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Have personal or family history
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Were once part of a collection
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No longer feel aligned in your space
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Deserve continued care or visibility
Stones may be:
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Rehomed with individuals
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Integrated into Solaria’s collections
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Used in educational kits or displays
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Held safely until a clear next step emerges
Adopt a Rock
Adopting a rock is a way to:
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Support Solaria’s development and collections
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Learn about a specific stone or mineral
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Participate in stewardship rather than ownership
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Gift an adoption in someone’s name
Stones available for adoption may be:
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Visited during open days or events
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Included in rotating displays
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Documented with shared stories or geological notes
Programme Status
This programme is currently in seed form and will grow alongside Solaria.
Initial offerings are welcomed by conversation and alignment rather than fixed processes.
If you feel called to rehome a stone or explore adoption, we invite you to connect.
*This is a gifting and donation programme. All specimens are donated to Solaria and may become part of the permanent collection, educational programmes or be made available through the Adopt a Rock programme. Adoption donations directly support the continued development of Solaria.