Must-see shopping in New Zealand

  • Real Groovy

    City Centre & Britomart

    Masses of new, secondhand and rare releases in vinyl and CD format, as well as concert tickets, giant posters, DVDs, books, magazines and clothes.

  • Tannery

    Christchurch

    In a city mourning the loss of its heritage, this post-earthquake conversion of a 19th-century tannery couldn't be more welcome. The Victorian buildings…

  • Toi Hauāuru Studio

    Waikato & the Coromandel Peninsula

    Run by local artist Simon Te Wheoro, this excellent gallery/shop is located 2km from Raglan on the road from Hamilton. Contemporary artwork and sculpture…

  • Waewae Pounamu

    The West Coast

    Linked to Ngāti Waewae, a local hapū (subtribe) of the broader Ngāi Tahu tribe, this stronghold of pounamu carving displays traditional and contemporary…

  • ArohArt

    Coromandel Peninsula

    Apparel, jewellery, homewares, prints and carving all come with a Māori design influence at this Māori-owned store. Most of the work is by Māori artists…

  • Kina

    New Plymouth

    Fabulous Kiwi crafts, jewellery, and bath and beauty products in a lovely shopfront on the main drag. Art and design gallery exhibitions happen with…

  • St Kevin's Arcade

    Ponsonby & Karangahape Rd

    Built in 1924, this historic, renovated shopping arcade has interesting stores selling vintage clothing and organic and sustainable goods. The arcade also…

  • Unity Books

    Wellington

    Sets the standard for every bookshop in the land, with dedicated NZ tables piled high, plus regular book launches, author readings and literary events. We…

  • Bounty Store

    Coromandel Peninsula

    Excellent arts-and-crafts shop with loads of local products and a quirky selection of Kiwiana works. Highly recommended for distinctive souvenirs and…

  • Vinyl Destination

    Tauranga

    Vinyl Destination is far more than a record store – it’s music incorporated, with a bar, beer garden, live-music venue and even a radio station (105.4FM)…

  • Herb Farm

    Palmerston North

    Demand for Lynn Kirkland's homemade natural remedies led to the Herb Farm opening in 1993. Her daughter joined the business, and together they sell…

  • Slow Boat Records

    Wellington

    Country, folk, pop, indie, metal, blues, soul, rock, Hawaiian nose-flute music – it's all here at Slow Boat, Wellington's long-running music shop and Cuba…

  • Royal Jewellery Studio

    Kingsland & Mt Eden

    Work by local artisans, including beautiful Māori designs and authentic pounamu (greenstone) jewellery.

  • Unity Books

    City Centre & Britomart

    The inner-city's best independent bookshop with a fine selection of NZ tomes.

  • Garth Wilson Jade

    Greymouth

    Whakapapa (genealogy) links to two West Coast hapū (subtribes) give Garth the right to collect pounamu all along the coast, which he then carves in his…

  • Wood2Water

    Bay of Islands

    This eclectic arts and craft store stocks souvenirs and gifts from tea towels to jewellery, framed prints and handcrafted wooden products. Most are local…

  • Vesta

    Queenstown

    Arguably Queenstown's most interesting store, inside inarguably the town's oldest building; Vesta sells a collection of prints, jewellery and homeware as…

  • Flying Fish

    Bay of Islands

    Stylish gifts from NZ from jewellery to merino products and homewares, all quirky, all uniquely Kiwi.

  • Women's Bookshop, Ponsonby.

    Women’s Bookshop

    Ponsonby & Karangahape Rd

    Excellent independent bookshop with a great selection of NZ authors and NZ-themed books.

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    Mandatory

    Wellington

    Fancy duds for dudes: great service and sharp tailoring for the capital's cool cats.

  • Lava Glass

    Taupo

    More than 600 unique glass sculptures fill the garden and surroundings of this gallery, around 10km north of Taupo on SH5. Glass-blowing displays and an…

  • Taupo Market

    Taupo

    Plenty of food stalls and trucks, local souvenirs, arts and crafts and a scattering of produce are all good reasons to make your first coffee of the day…

  • Jens Hansen

    Nelson

    Catapulted to fame after designing the One Ring for the Lord of the Rings movies, this contemporary jeweller now does a brisk trade in Elvish-inscribed…

  • Ivan Clarke Gallery

    Queenstown

    Be prepared for industrial-strength levels of whimsy in this gallery devoted to the work of pooch-loving local artist, Ivan Clarke. Hanging alongside his…

  • Dancing Sands Distillery

    Takaka

    Here's a surprise – an award-winning distillery tucked down a laneway off Takaka's main street. Its gin and vodka is crafted from water from the same…

  • Paper Scissors Rock

    Takaka

    There's no shortage of arty and crafty action along Takaka's main street, but Paper Scissors Rock stands out from the more ethnic and hippie-influenced…

  • Pihama Lavender Farm

    Taranaki & Whanganui

    Technically in Pihama, 7km east from Opunake, this 2-hectare lavender farm in a former dairy farm is home to a local gallery and gift store. On the third…

  • Martinborough Wine Merchants

    The Wairarapa

    Adjoining the busy Village Cafe, this cavernous store is an excellent place to buy local wine and maybe taste some, too. They also sell divine comestibles…

  • Blackball Salami Company Ltd

    The West Coast

    Take time to sample Blackball's namesake salami, beloved up and down the West Coast. The garlic and peppercorn varieties have a kick, the venison version…

  • Guild

    Dunedin

    This cooperative of Dunedin designers sells high-end fashion, jewellery and homewares made by its 12 members and special guests. You'll find bright and…

  • Caravan Clothing & Home

    Bay of Islands

    A Russell outpost of this Kerikeri-based store selling clothing and homewares in the latest textures, fabrics and colours. Fashionistas will recognise…

  • Kaiwaka Cheese Shop

    Bay of Islands & Northland

    It's an unusual spot for a Dutch-style delicatessen, but the Kaiwaka Cheese Shop has long been an essential stop for travelling foodies seeking some…

  • Rākai Jade

    Rotorua

    Purchase off-the-shelf pounamu (greenstone/jade) pieces, or work with Rākai's on-site team of local Māori carvers to design and carve your own pendant or…

  • New Regent St

    Christchurch

    This pretty little stretch of pastel Spanish Mission–style shops was described as NZ's most beautiful street when it was completed in 1932. Fully restored…

  • Gilchrist Store

    Oturehua

    New Zealand's oldest continually operating store (1899) features floor-to-ceiling wooden shelves stocked with old boxes of soap powder, rolling tobacco…

  • Moore Wilson's

    Wellington

    A call-out to self-caterers: this positively swoon-inducing grocer is one of NZ's most committed supporters of independently produced and artisanal…

  • Dust & Rust

    Buller Region

    Rummage through an ever-changing array of vintage cars, foreign number-plates, hubcaps, 1970s kitchenware and vintage clothing at this impressive archive…

  • Waiheke Wine Centre

    Waiheke Island

    Located in Oneroa's main street, this well-stocked and authoritative store features wine from all of Waiheke's vineyards, and is a good place to pick up…

  • Nimmo Gallery & Store

    Greymouth

    Ostensibly the gallery of local landscape photographer Stewart Nimmo, this stylish space overflows with cracking souvenirs (with more handicrafts and…