Shopping in New Zealand
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Untouched World
At the Arts Centre, Untouched World has quality NZ-made clothing. Clothes may be made of ‘mountainsilk’ (machine-washable fine merino wool) or ‘merinomink’ (a blend of merino wool and possum fur).
reviewed
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Rosy Glow Chocolate House
No Collingwood visit would be complete without dipping into Rosy Glow Chocolate House. Chocoholics will go nuts for handmade confection produced with love.
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Mountain Designs
Closed until further notice.
For camping gear, hiking boots and outdoor equipment, head to Mountain Designs near the intersection of Colombo and Lichfield Sts.
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Ballantynes
Closed until further notice.
Venerable Christchurch department store selling men’s and women’s fashions, cosmetics, travel goods and speciality NZ gifts.
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Grahamstown Market
On Saturday mornings the Grahamstown Market fills the street with organic produce and handicrafts.
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Toad Hall
Locally grown fruit, organic veggies, frozen yoghurt and ice cream.
reviewed
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Dunedin Farmers Market
The thriving Dunedin Farmers Market convenes at the Dunedin Railway Station. It’s all local, all eatable (or drinkable), and mostly organic, with everything from Speight’s-beer-flavoured ice cream, gourmet sausages, and Russian pancakes filled with blue cod. There’s usually live music on offer, and a passionate foodie vibe. Grab felafels or espresso to sustain you while you browse, and stock up on interesting fresh meats and seafood, vegies and cheeses for your journey. Also pick up some locally brewed Green Man organic beer.
reviewed
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Craft Market
This fascinating area of ancient buildings and narrow streets is now home to bookshops, antique stores, galleries, herbalists and more. The Woolstore has a café, tat and souvenirs, and the Auto Museum for car buffs (the racing cars from the '30s through '80s are particularly cool). Upstairs, there's a craft market and giant novelty chess set. Around the corner at the Photo Shoppe , you can get an olde-style photo of yeeself in period dress-ups for $30.
reviewed
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La Cigale
La Cigale caters to Francophiles and homesick Gauls, stocking all manner of French produce (wine, cheese, tinned snails etc), and the in-house cafe (mains $7.50 to $17.50) serves delicious delicatessen platters ($18). Yet it’s during the weekend farmers markets that this cigale (cicada) really chirps. Lose yourself among stalls laden with produce, home-made jam, honey and all manner of tasty snacks.
reviewed
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Victoria Park Market
Victoria Park Market, a 20min walk west of Queen St, has a huge variety of goods including clothes, pottery, leather work, handicrafts and so on. Just the spot to spend the afternoon searching for that perfect kiwi t-shirt, tiki keyring or lambswool ruggie. Get a cheap massage after all that shopping and chill out in one of the cafes. Cheap massages are also available, and there's live entertainment on weekends.
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Hailwood
Ladies and gentlemen no longer have to pick through other boutiques' racks looking for local designer Adrian Hailwood's smart and playful pieces; they're all consolidated here in his own-label store. (Even he's here, working out the back.) Expect his and hers shirts and jumpers made from divine silk or velvet fabrics with a juvenile-retro woodland print, or classic '50s cuts in Western fabrics.
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Little Brother
One for the fellows, Little Brother stocks its own line of street-smart streetwear that's understated tucked-and-tailored. Designs are consciously created and made in NZ. Also in store, look for T-shirts emblazoned by iconic music label Flying Nun, and miniature Little Brother pieces for boys (aged one to eight) under the Little Shit label.
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Fingers
This gallery-cum-shop is a treasure trove of precious things designed and crafted by around 50 local jewellers. Individual pieces may reference nature, NZ icons and identity. Materials used include precious metals, shells, fabrics, stone and found objects. Fingers has been around for over 30 years, and hosts regular solo and group shows.
reviewed
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Ship to Shore
Self-caterers can get groceries and beer and wine from Oban’s general store, Ship to Shore. Also available are sandwiches and baked goodies ($3 to $6), and staff can prepare a packed lunch if you’re going for a day tramp. It’s also the kind of friendly place that announces locals’ birthdays on a blackboard outside.
reviewed
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Bike Shed
Bike Shed hires out mountain bikes from $35 per day, including helmet and lock. Ask them for updates on the Mountain to Sea Ohakune-to-Whanganui bike track, which has been ascribed ‘Quick Start’ status as part of the proposed New Zealand Cycle Trail project.
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Children's Bookshop
This sprawling shop has shelves chock-a-block with stories, adventures and sneakily educative titles. The excellent NZ section stocks supreme children's authors such as Margaret Mahy and Pamela Allen, as well as Maori myths. Helpful staff can help you choose a book to suit your toddler to your young adult.
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Illicit
If you're looking for a lasting memento of your trip to Auckland, have an icon etched into your skin at the well-regarded Illicit tattoo studio. If going home with a volcano on your bicep seems too over the top, it does piercing too: specialising in ear stretching, large-gauge and genital jewellery.
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Records Records
This near-legend of a shop, with records stacked all about, seems constantly on the verge of closing down, but clings to life by the skin of its teeth. Do us a favour – hunt it out and buy a record. Places like this need to be kept alive, especially here in the homeland of NZ indie music.
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toi o tahuna
Exclusively NZ art, with around half the work from contemporary Maori artists. Ask gallery owner Mark Moran for the free ‘Galleries & Artist Studios in the Wakatipu’ guide – proof that Queenstown’s definitely about more than leaping off bridges wearing a giant rubber band.
reviewed
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Originz
This gift shop is filled with local crafts, including cards, soaps, clocks, candles, paintings and pottery. You’ll find unique, reasonably priced objects, and it’s all proudly made in NZ. A good place for unusual gifts that are easy to transport home. It’s off Ardmore St.
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St Arnaud Alpine Village Store
The settlement’s only general store sells groceries, petrol, good beer and possum-wool socks. Mountain-bike hire per half-/full-day is $20/40. It also has sandwiches, pies and milkshakes, and from 4.30pm to 8.30pm the owners crank up the fish-and-chip shop ($4 to $9).
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Champions of the World
Pick up a hat, T-shirt, key ring or tie from the Kiwi sporting code of Rugby Union. Only problem is, official merchandise comes in one colour: All Blacks. Great retro one-day cricket gear worn by the Black Caps is also available for any budding Ewan Chatfields.
reviewed
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Mainly Tramping
For all your specialist outdoor needs, be they tramping, kayaking or mountain climbing, this is the place. Staff here are knowledgeable and helpful; rental of tramping gear is available. Other stores selling outdoor equipment are found on and around Mercer St.
reviewed
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Barrys Bay Cheese
At Barrys Bay, on the western side of Akaroa Harbour (12km from Akaroa), is the enticing Barrys Bay Cheese, where you can taste and purchase fine cheddar, havarti and gouda. Crackers and chutney are available for a spontaneous seaside snack.
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