Souvenir Shopping Guide: 17 Kiwi Things to Buy in Auckland

Souvenir Shopping Guide: 17 Kiwi Things to Buy in Auckland

Although closer than it used to be, courtesy of “The Lord of the Rings” movie trilogy, New Zealand still remains below “Down Under” to many. If you're privileged to visit Auckland, make sure to bring home something memorable to “extend” your trip. Here are some ideas for signature souvenirs from this part of Kiwiland.
(To visit the venues mentioned in this article, check out these Self-Guided Walking Tours in Auckland)
Image Courtesy of: Erected_Exposures

1. Ceramic Pukekos

Ceramic Pukekos
Pukekos are an indigenous New Zealand bird often seen picking around on the side of the road. In their ceramic form, they make colourful and quirky gifts, especially the ones with ceramic bodies and legs made from strips of leather. They are especially becoming when sat on sideboards and mantle pieces with their legs dangling off the edge. They come in a range of colours and sizes and are all handmade. The hard part will be deciding whether one is enough or whether a pair is more sociable.

For garden lovers, ceramic pukekos with stilts for legs make for a fun and colourful addition to any garden. Head north out of Auckland for an hour and you’ll reach fashionable Matakana. Here you’ll find many stores specialising in locally made ceramics and glassware. Morris & James is a reputable large ceramic store and studio with a huge range of pots and vessels, art, homeware and gifts. The store is located on Tongue Farm Road, Matakana. It’s well sign posted also. Phone the store on 09 422 7116. The collection showroom is open daily between 9am and 5pm. Prices start from NZD10 and the sky is the limit.
Where to find it:
Morris & James:
Address: 48 Tongue Farm Rd, Matakana 0985, New Zealand
Phone:+64 9-422 7116
Opening Hours: Daily between 9am and 5pm.
Offline reading and travel directions:
With GPSmyCity App you can read this article offline on your mobile device, use the embedded offline city map and GPS navigation, as well as create a self-guided walk to visit the venues featured in the article.

2. Swanndri

Swanndri
Image Courtesy of: kelly
Swanndri is a brand of distinctly New Zealand clothing most commonly worn on farms. Most New Zealanders refer to the specific type of heavy woollen shirt as a ‘swanny’. It’s incredibly warm and used for many forms of outdoor recreation e.g. fishing, hunting. It’s typically a tartan pattern and would be a great gift for any male who likes to spend a lot of time outside in often cold weather. Botany Hunting & Fishing New Zealand is 1400 square meters of floor space dedicated to everything hunting and fishing. They have a huge range of clothing including swanndris in various styles. This super store is located at The Hub, Botany Downs.
Where to find it:
The Hub is located at 5 Te Koha Road, East Tamaki in Auckland. Their phone number is 09 271 4421 and they are open seven days. During summer the store is open 8.30am to 5.30pm. During the winter months, the store is open Monday to Saturday 8.30am to 5.30pm and Sundays 9.3am to 4.30pm. Prices for swanndris or bush shirts range from NZD150 through to NZD300.
Offline reading and travel directions:
With GPSmyCity App you can read this article offline on your mobile device, use the embedded offline city map and GPS navigation, as well as create a self-guided walk to visit the venues featured in the article.

3. Wooden Buzzy Bees

Wooden Buzzy Bees
Image Courtesy of: Hikosaemon
Every New Zealand child has grown up with a colourfully painted wooden buzzy bee. It has a string attached that toddlers pull along. This distinctive children’s toy has been around since the 1930s and the image itself is experiencing a fashionable rebirth as a popular image on a whole range of domestic media including tea towels, canvas and T-shirts.

Pull along wooden buzzy bees are an iconic New Zealand gift that kiwis give to each other so for a gift that any child would love, a wooden buzzy bee is sure to be a winner. Wooden buzzy bees are readily available at most toy stores in Auckland and retail for approximately NZD35. For a large range of toys under one roof, visit Kmart or The Warehouse. The Warehouse in downtown Auckland is located in the Downtown Shopping Centre on the corner of Custom and Albert Streets in Auckland. The phone number is +64 0 309 6996. The store is open seven days a week between 8am and 8pm.
Where to find it:
Address: The Warehouse: 2nd Floor, Downtown Shopping Centre Cnr Custom & Albert Streets Auckland 1010.
Phone: (09) 358 4454.
Fax: (09) 358 3902.
Opening Hours: Mon-Sun 8am - 8pm.
Offline reading and travel directions:
With GPSmyCity App you can read this article offline on your mobile device, use the embedded offline city map and GPS navigation, as well as create a self-guided walk to visit the venues featured in the article.

4. Paua Shell Ashtrays

Paua Shell Ashtrays
Treated paua shell highlights the unique array of gorgeous blues, greens and purples inherent in the shell. Paua shell ashtrays specifically are a quintessential New Zealand gift found in many New Zealand homes today. The ashtray is made from a whole half of the shell which is the perfect size for an ashtray.

The shell itself is unaltered so it retains its natural shape and colour. An alternative type of paua ashtray are the resin ones that have many small pieces of paua embedded in a clear resin. Paua ashtrays are a fashionably kitsch gift that can be found in most Auckland dutyfree stores. However, for the largest range of paua gifts, visit Paua World at 54 Kent Street in Carterton. Their phone number is +64 6 379 4247.
Where to find it:
Paua World is open every day of the year except for Christmas Day.
Opening hours:
Monday to Friday 8am – 5pm
Saturday to Sunday 9am – 5pm.

5. Sheepskin Rugs

Sheepskin Rugs
New Zealand has more sheep than people, a long standing joke amongst New Zealand’s immediate neighbours. Natural, undyed sheepskin rugs are representative of New Zealand’s huge farming industry. Sheepskin rugs are super soft, natural and a warm shade of cream.

People are always surprised at how soft they feel. The rugs are locally made and each piece is uniquely shaped. They come in a range of sizes and many stores provide the sheepskin rugs in vacuum packs that make them suitably small enough to fit into checked luggage. They range in cost from approximately NZD80 through to NZD700 depending on size.
Where to find it:
Sheepskin rugs are readily available at most duty free stores in Auckland. There are a number of duty free stores around the Viaduct and Britomart area in downtown Auckland. 
Hartings
148 Quay Street in downtown Auckland
Opening Hours:
Monday to Friday 10am to 6pm
Saturdays 11am to 4pm
Phone: +64 9 366 4739
Buy It on Amazon:

6. Manuka Honey

Manuka Honey
Image Courtesy of: spentrails
Manuka honey is New Zealand’s best known honey. There are a huge range of products made from it aside from its obvious use as a breakfast spread. These include cosmetics and health supplements. Manuka honey has been giving generations of New Zealanders its health-maintaining benefits for many years. Today, the active ingredients of pure manuka honey are rated by their UMF or ‘Unique Manuka Factor’. The higher the factor, the more potent the antibacterial properties. There is a range of manuka honey products available with different strengths. 250g jars of active Manuka Honey will set you back approximately NZD30, whilst a 100 gram Manuka Honey hand crème starts at NZD22.

Visit the Honey Centre near Warkworth which is approximately 45 minutes north of Auckland. Not only do they have one of the widest ranges of Manuka honey products in New Zealand, but you can also get a close-up view of a working hive in New Zealand’s largest live display of bees. The Honey Centre is located on the corner of State Highway One & Perry Road. Their phone number is 09 425 8003. The centre is open daily except Christmas from 8.30am to 5.00pm.
Where to find it:
The Honey Centre :
Address: 7 Perry Rd, Warkworth 0983, New Zealand
Phone:+64 9-425 8003
Opening Hours: Daily except Christmas from 8.30am to 5.00pm.
Buy It on Amazon:

7. Wooden Kiwis

Wooden Kiwis
The shy kiwi is New Zealand’s national bird. They are endangered so to catch a glimpse of one, is especially memorable for most visitors to New Zealand. As a souvenir, the kiwi comes in many forms but the most classic is when it is made of wood. Wooden kiwis of many shapes and forms can be found in almost any store that sells souvenirs, art, and wooden homeware products. A fitting place to purchase wooden kiwis is at Auckland Zoo. The zoo itself has a darkened kiwi enclosure so it’s a nice experience to be able to see a kiwi and then buy a wooden souvenir of these nocturnal, shy creatures from the same place.

The Wildzone Gift Shop is open daily between 9.30am and 5.30pm excluding Christmas Day. One can expect to pay in the realms of between NZD30 up to NZD100 for a gorgeous wooden kiwi. The zoo is located on Motions Road in Western Springs, Auckland. Phone Wildzone on 09 376 3035.
Where to find it:
Wildzone Gift Shop.
Address: Auckland Zoo, Motions Road in Western Springs, Auckland
Opening Hours: Daily between 9.30am and 5.30pm excluding Christmas Day

8. Swamp Kauri Clocks

Swamp Kauri Clocks
Kauri is one of New Zealand’s most iconic trees and unfortunately, there are hardly any left. During the early 1900s, huge blocks of native Kauri forest were cleared for farming all over New Zealand. Over a hundred years later, swamp kauri is being excavated and due to the distinctive beauty of the wood, swamp kauri is experiencing a renewed popularity.

Clocks made from swamp kauri are natural and uniquely shaped. No two are the same. They certainly make wonderful gifts that act as a distinctive point of interest in any home. They are wooden but are heavily lacquered to enhance and highlight the natural beauty of the wood. The clocks come well-packaged and suitable for packing away in your checked in luggage. The cost of these clocks range from NZD89 through to NZD340 depending on size.
Where to find it:
Swamp kauri clocks are available from most duty free stores. However, for the largest range of swamp kauri clocks in New Zealand, visit the Natural Wood Creations factory in Nell Place, Otaika 0193, Whangarei.
Their phone number is +64 9 438 8884.
Opening Hours:
Monday to Friday 8am – 5pm,
Saturday and Sundays 9am – 4pm.

9. Bone Pendants

Bone Pendants
Image Courtesy of: christina rutz
The indigenous Maori of New Zealand often carved whale bone. Today, bone pendants are mainly carved from beef bone. Carved in the shapes of various traditional Maori motifs, bone pendants are popular gifts for young people. Most pendants come with a small card explaining the significance of that particular motif. For example, a Maori koru which looks like a curled fern frond, symbolises new life and beginnings. A pendant in the shape of a twist embodies the longevity of relationships, family and love. Whether it is strength, luck, new beginnings, love or any number of attributes, there is a meaningful motif for everyone. One wouldn’t expect to pay any more than NZD100 for a bone pendant, with most being priced between NZD30 and NZD50. The Texan Art School stores in Auckland are filled with beautiful New Zealand-made art, jewellery and sculpture. There are five stores in Auckland.

The original store in Newmarket remains the largest. Allow plenty of time when you visit the store because there will be so many choices. The Newmarket store is located at 366 Broadway. The phone number is 09 529 1021. The store is open Monday to Friday 9.30am to 6pm, Saturdays from 9.30am to 5pm and Sunday from 10am to 5pm. The store is not open on public holidays.
Where to find it:
Texan Art Schools (Sylvia Park):
Address: Shop 33, Sylvia Park, 286 Mt Wellington Highway, Mt Wellington, Auckland, Region: Auckland, Central Auckland
Opening Hours:
Monday to Friday 9.30am to 6pm,
Saturdays from 9.30am to 5pm,
Sunday from 10am to 5pm.
The store is not open on public holidays.
Buy It on Amazon:

10. Greenstone

Greenstone
Image Courtesy of: Sarang
Greenstone is similar in appearance to jade but in New Zealand, the stone is distinctly darker and softer. Revered by the indigenous Maori, common greenstone gifts are pendants, kiwi sculptures and even just a small block of greenstone itself. New Zealand greenstone (also known as pounamu) is very soft so it lends itself well to a range of beautiful gifts that showcases its innate beauty whilst at the same time, embodying New Zealand’s clean green image. For a representative sample of appropriate greenstone gifts, visit the Auckland Museum’s gift store.

Auckland Museum is one of New Zealand’s largest repositories of ancient and culturally significant greenstone artefacts. So after admiring the items on display, visit the museum store to take away your own small piece of New Zealand greenstone. The most popular greenstone souvenirs range from pendants through to sculpture in a range of Maori themes and symbols. Pendants start from NZD20 whilst sculptures can set you back hundreds of dollars. The museum store is open daily except for Christmas Day. Opening hours are 10am – 5pm. Their phone number is +64 9 309 2580. The museum is located in Auckland Domain.
Where to find it:
Auckland Domain:
Address: Park Rd, Grafton, Auckland 1010, New Zealand
Phone: +64 9-301 0101
Opening Hours: Daily from 10am – 5pm.
Buy It on Amazon:

11. Icebreaker Clothing

Icebreaker Clothing
Image Courtesy of: Diane Wellman
The New Zealand brand, Icebreaker, uses New Zealand wool – specifically Merino - for a huge range of clothing e.g. scarves, gloves, singlets, jumpers, leggings, dresses, skirts, jackets and plenty more. Icebreaker merino fabric combines all the warmth of traditional wool with the lightweight and fast drying properties of synthetic s which makes their clothing especially suitable for biking, hiking, hunting, mountaineering, multisport, travel and yoga just to name a few activities. Icebreaker makes clothes for men, women and kids.

Queen Street in Auckland has many stores with clothing suitable for the outdoors. Visit the Icebreaker TouchLab Queen Street store to browse over the huge range of available clothing made from this distinctly New Zealand bred wool. Prices are reasonable. For example, gloves start at NZD40 and long sleeved tops from NZD100. The Queen Street store is located at 105 Queen Street. Their phone number is 09 969 1653. Store hours are Monday to Friday 9.30am to 6pm and Saturdays and Sundays from 10am to 5pm.
Where to find it:
The Queen Street store is located at 105 Queen Street.
Their phone number is 09 969 1653.
Opening Hours:
Monday to Friday 9.30am to 6pm,
Saturdays and Sundays from 10am to 5pm.

12. Cosmetic Mud Products

Cosmetic Mud Products
Parts of New Zealand are famous for its natural thermal activity. The mud from these areas are said to be especially mineral-rich so souvenirs such as face creams and hand lotions made from thermal mud are an especially unique and quirky New Zealand gift. One doesn’t need to worry that cosmetic mud products smell as bad as the thermal areas themselves. Most mud products have been manufactured to preserve the very best of their natural anti-oxidant, mineral-rich qualities whilst combined with a range of pleasant fragrances.

Rotorua is a 3 hour drive from Auckland and is New Zealand’s thermal capital of New Zealand. Visit the renowned Polynesian Spa to sample the calming, healing waters of Rotor’s numerous thermal springs or even indulge in a spa treatment using thermal mud. The spa has a huge selection of thermal mud products for purchase. These include face packs, foot scrubs, shampoos, hand crèmes and body lotions. Prices range from NZD20 for single items through to NZD150 for gift packs.
Where to find it:
The Polynesian Spa is located lakeside on Hinemoa Street, Rotorua. The phone number is 07 348 1328.
Opening Hours:
Daily between 8am and 11pm.
Buy It on Amazon:

13. New Zealand Wine

New Zealand Wine
New Zealand has some internationally renowned, award-winning wines. Sauvignon wine from the Marlborough region of New Zealand is especially notable. New Zealanders love their wine so if you’ve enjoyed New Zealand’s wine, then a bottle of wine to take home with you is a classic gift. There are many vineyards in the Auckland area so if you haven’t already found the perfect wine, then thankfully Auckland has been generously bestowed with more than its fair share of wine stores.

Award-winning wines are affordably priced from between NZD20 up to over NZD250. Visit the Glengarry Wines outlet at 139 Ponsonby Road, Ponsonby, Auckland. Or if you prefer to sample the product before you buy it, you can wine or dine first at any of the many bars and restaurants on Ponsonby Road. Glengarry Ponsonby is open seven days Monday to Wednesday 9am to 9pm, Thursday to Saturday 9am to 10pm, and Sunday 12pm to 8pm. Phone the store on 09 378 8252.
Where to find it:
Glengarry Ponsonby:
Phone: 09 378 8252
Opening Hours:
Monday to Wednesday 9am to 9pm,
Thursday to Saturday 9am to 10pm,
Sunday 12pm to 8pm

14. Pineapple Lumps

Pineapple Lumps
One of the most requested food items for New Zealanders living overseas is Pascall’s Pineapple Lumps. Unique to New Zealand from 1935, they are an extremely popular New Zealand confectionary. If you have a sweet tooth or are souvenir shopping for someone with a sweet tooth, you can assure yourself and them that Pascall Pineapple Lumps are a national delicacy. Pineapple lumps are small square lumps of pineapple flavoured chewy sweets covered in a thin layer of chocolate.

They are available in 140 gram family bags for between NZD2-3 dollars and 300 gram jumbo packs for approximately NZD3-4 dollars. Pineapple lumps are readily available from the confectionary aisle of most supermarkets, corner dairies and gas stations. Some supermarkets and gas stations are open for 24 hours so there should be no difficulty in locating them. There are many cheap imitations of pineapple lumps so be sure to be the authentic Pascall Pineapple Lumps.
Buy It on Amazon:

15. Sanitarium Marmite

Sanitarium Marmite
Since the dawn of time, a war has raged between the popularity of New Zealand marmite and Australian vegemite. New Zealand marmite is definitely an acquired taste and generally described as incredibly salty and savoury. It is made from a potent mix of yeast, sugar, salt, herbs, spices, vitamins and mineral and is a popular breakfast spread. It’s been around since 1910 in New Zealand so whilst it’s a firm favourite for New Zealanders, it’s almost always an acquired taste for everyone else.

New Zealand marmite is manufactured by Sanitarium. Marmite comes in pottles of four different sizes i.e. 125grams, 175grams, 250grams and 500grams. It’s generally used quite sparingly because it has such a strong flavour. Prices range from between NZD3 and NZD7. Sanitarium Marmite is found in just about every supermarket in New Zealand. As long as it remains sealed, there should be no issues without taking this food item back home.

16. 42 Below Vodka

42 Below Vodka
This is one of New Zealand’s most famous alcoholic exports. The success of this vodka is also testament to good old fashioned kiwi perseverance and ingenuity. The story of this vodka’s path to success has also been immortalised in a book about its humble beginnings. It’s called Every Bastard Says No by Geoff Ross. It retails for approximately NZD45 and available at most book stores.

If you’d rather drink the vodka instead of read about it, 42 Below Vodka is available in a range of distinctly kiwi flavours e.g. manuka honey, kiwifruit, feijoa and passionfruit. It is available at most liquor outlets in New Zealand and priced at around NZD40 for a 700ml bottle. Visit the Glengarry outlet at 139 Ponsonby Road, Ponsonby, Auckland. Or if you prefer to sample the product before you buy it, you can wine or dine first at any of the many bars and restaurants on Ponsonby Road.
Where to find it:
Glengarry Ponsonby:
Opening Hours:
Monday to Wednesday 9am to 9pm,
Thursday to Saturday 9am to 10pm,
Sunday 12pm to 8pm.
Phone the store on 09 378 8252.

17. First Day Covers of New Zealand Stamps

First Day Covers of New Zealand Stamps
New Zealand is a country of avid stamp collectors. Long after the rest of the world embraced the internet and other forms of modern communication, many New Zealanders still post letters. It probably has something to do with being so far from the rest of the world so to get a letter from overseas used to be a big deal.

Every year an edition of first day covers are produced. The pack includes every new stamp released in the last twelve months. The stamps are arranged in series and are mounted on illustrative commemorative envelopes. These packs can only be purchased at a New Zealand post shop outlet and are sold at set prices at all post shop outlets. These are currently priced at NZD173. There are a number of post shops in Auckland city. In addition, every mall in Auckland has a post shop.
Where to find it:
The Wellesley Street Post Shop is in the Kiwibank Building at 24 Wellesley Street in the Auckland CBD.
Phone number is +64 9 379 6710.
Opening Hours: Monday to Friday 7.30am to 5.30pm.

Other Interesting Souvenirs from New Zealand


If traveling to New Zealand is not on your immediate agenda, or you simply can't afford an extra space in your luggage, fortunately, these days, you can find a wide selection of authentic and truly interesting Kiwi souvenirs online. Presented here are some of the Kiwi products sought by foreign visitors, now available online for your convenience.

1. Handcrafted Jewelry - Handcrafted in New Zealand using local, ethically sourced materials and low-tech work practices, exclusive jewelry of unique designs: rings, necklaces & more in gold, silver & gemstones. Inspiring & creative pieces.

2. L&P Soft Drink - "World famous in New Zealand" Lemon & Paeroa (L&P) sweet soft drink is hugely popular in New Zealand, particularly as a mixer in bars. It is traditionally made as a combination of lemon juice and carbonated mineral water from the town of Paeroa, hence the name.

3. Possum Merino Knitwear - Simply divine, meticulously handcrafted Merino gloves, poncho, felted hat and other garments made of an exclusive blend of 100% natural fibers, fine Merino wool and luxurious Brushtail Possum fiber, which traps air both within the fiber and the fabric, will heat your head, body and hands in an instant. Practical and beautiful featherweight softness, combined with outstanding durability and excellent performance characteristics, make it an ideal gift set from New Zealand.

4. Manuka Honey Beauty Products - Hand & Nail Conditioning Cream, Facial Cream Mask & Moisturizer, Honey & Propolis Soap and other beauty products from New Zealand contain among their ingredients Manuka Honey, one of the world's great healers, and Mamaku (Black Tree Fern), a rare botanical that has been used by Maori for centuries to cool, cleanse, heal, revive and rehydrate the skin. Some of these also contain bee venom from New Zealand's hives renowned for assisting collagen under the skin to tighten, thus decreasing the appearance of wrinkles. Lightweight and non-greasy, these products are used and endorsed by many celebrities and supermodels worldwide.

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