Lovely health food store in a nice neighborhood of Auckland. I enjoyed chatting with the friendly,…read morehelpful staff. Thank you!

Break the piggy bank before you come here. They stock all things natural, organic and local with a…read morefew imported items. I came looking for a natural tooth paste. They had a small selection from $6.30 to $22.80. I may be all about organic and natural, but I'm no fool - you can keep that $22.80 all to ya self! The staff is well versed in the products they stock, which meant the cashier was helpful when I asked her to recommend a product. Turns out she was familiar with Toms of Main. I wanted something comparable, so she helped me make an informed decision. I was also pleased to see they carry Dr. Bronners soap. If you don't know about Dr. B's magic soap, get some and have your world rocked! Aside from toiletries, they also stock locally grown produce and dairy. Dry goods such as lentils, rice, pasta, teas and coffee are also readily available. Overall a friendly store. Most of the natural or local organic items you may be seeking can be found here.

When I walked into the Gluten Free Food and Allergy Show I was seriously stoked. Everywhere I…read morelooked was delicious food that I could actually eat. I walked in hungry and came out stuffed with free samples. My absolute favourite was the gluten free dumplings. Man, oh, man they were so good. There was also bread, pasta, pastries, celebrity chefs and gluten free lollies. And the best thing is that everything is really cheap and they do lots of deals where you can buy in bulk. This is really great considering how much gluten free products can cost. They also had seminars on allergies and it was so awesome to hear the latest research from the top specialists in the country. If you're gluten free or have any allergies at all I'd be there this year. It's so nice to have somewhere you can feel right at home.

After having a craving for a smoothie (a good one at that ) a quick check on yelp pointed me in the…read moredirection of Huckleberry Farms on Campbell rd . What a smoothie it was ! All the ingredients that were on the blackboard were in it , as in I could taste the parsley , kale , banana and pear . They also have a good cabinet food display no scones or muffins here tho , just good eats !

You know what is the coolest about Huckleberries? Is the fact that they try to be ethical - this…read moremeans supporting many independent growers/companies without it just being about business. This then also extends on to the customers, they go out of their way to help people; AND to their competitors as well. Organic stores in Auckland have a rich interlinked history I recently discovered, including that this store is also owned by the guys in Grey Lynn, Harvest Whole foods. I admit that I am not around this area enough to call it my local, but I know several people that do. It has a great reputation and for good reason (even if not the 'cheapest' of organic stores). One of the particular draw cards about Huckleberries is that they sell meat, (as opposed to Harvest). This is great for those of us that are still carnivores but like to know about the sources of our animal consumption. And I can buy pork free snags here - yay! Recently I have been on the hunt for some ethical-eco black eyeliner, I noticed on their website that they stock some, which is great as I was almost ready to give up hope for anything local. The black pencil variety cost $31.00, and I will be making a trip there very soon for that indeed! These guys have a great website too and list the specials for those of you that may want to check it out before you go on in.

This recently opened Lifesense shop is located in the heart of Three Lamps, Ponsonby…read more I was looking for some (natural and affordable) skincare products and was surprised to find Trilogy, Antipodes and Sukin products on their shelves. Hurrah! Also stock loads of supplements for everybody, whether it is glucosamine you want, or olive leaf to build immunity levels. Loving this new find! Yelp yelp.

Huckleberry Farms is a fantastic organic shop down in Glen Innes, with locations also in Royal Oak…read moreand Grey Lynn. What I like about this place is that it caters for not just one but many niches - from gluten-free to vegetarian to organic meat-eaters, Huckleberry Farms has most of your shopping list sorted. Do keep in mind though that although they have a wide range of stock, as it is natural and/or organic and/or gluten-free, it is pretty pricey and a lot more than what you'd pay down the road at the local supermarket. But don't let that put you off too much - they have very competitive prices with Nosh located over the road, and the service is super friendly and a bit more personalised than what you'd receive at Nosh.

If it is organic, gluten free or eco friendly then Huckleberry Farms probably has it. If you're…read moreinto organic eating or have some sort of food, this is the place for you. This store is a bit smaller than the other two locations but still stocks a decent amount of product. The produce is all very good quality and there is a good range of frozen and chilled foods. Down the back with the bulk nuts and cereals you can find baked goods that state they are free from multiple things. Harvest Wholefoods in Grey Lynn has a much better range and I prefer to go there as I can buy vegan muffins and cookies made in New Zealand from all natural ingredients by Kauri Kitchen. Even so if you are local to GI and want to eat healthier or need to find foods that cater to your dietary needs then I recommend it. Price doesn't really factor in much here. If you prioritise your health then you will pay to know what you are eating is free from preservatives and other ingredients that you can't pronounce. The owners are strict with which products they will stock based on ingredients, location and production methods. Eat well, treat your body well. Shop here.

I'm always looking for new ways to get protein into my diet and Blissful Vegetarian is one of the…read moreplaces I've visited to get textured vegetable protein and fake meat. I like the idea of the array of stuff that they have there and am always intrigued by how many ways there are to present soy as a meat, but I've found that the freezer food at this place all ends up tasting the same. You take home some fake pork, some fake chicken and some fake bacon and everything has the same sickly sweet taste to it. My partner loves it and has taken to buying up large from Blissful Vegetarian, but I am absolutely not a fan.

Luscious is a gourmet health grocery store located just past the top of Parnell rise. A specialty…read morehealth food store which also stocks an extensive range of wines (they even have vegan wines) and an impressive array of hard to find health and specialty gourmet foods just to make your diet a little more interesting. You will find fresh vegetables, frozen yoghurts, specialty breads, pastas, grains, cereals amongst your more common ingredients (only organic) and some not so common like date paste and red quinoa. Down the back of the store is a fantastic selection of specialty juices, coconut waters and iced teas and much of the product here is sourced from New Zealand. This place is popular with those who work in the area who want a healthy lunch on the go with a decent amount of cabinet food to choose from and fresh juices and smoothies. The coffee is pretty amazing too, very strong. Chateau Kiwi use beans from Organica. Whether you have food allergies, a specialty diet or just like your food to be not so common then this is a place you should check out.

The chateau kiwi is very like 'The Barrow' in the central city. Aimed at providing a more gourmet…read moretake on regular grocery shopping, they both chase the same sort of niche. I like the Chateau kiwi as it stocks a really good range of organic and health foods. Nowhere else can I find my favourite range of little bird organics apart from their original shop in Kingsland . You haven't lived until you have tried the strawberry and White cacao macaroons. And then of course there's the frozen dumplings which I often buy from here and make my own dipping sauce and trick my friends into thinking I am a real life masterchef.

I have been known to drive a whole two suburbs over to come here (oh god the food kilometres). I…read morefirst discovered it popping in after the YMCA and it is so much more than a 4 Square. There's a huge selection of French wines which is a total surprise and while they're all a bit pricey for me, it's still fun to look. It has a proper mini-market feel with everything from fresh specialty breads to meats but for me the produce is where it's at. I have a great local green grocer that I visit constantly but I have to say the bagged salad leaves here are the best. Always fresh and well under those ridiculous supermarket prices, this is one of those places where if it's not top quality they don't stock it. You can also grab your basics; bread, milk, a forgotten pantry ingredient and there's a range of ethnic foods as well. And did I mention magazines? One stop shop.

An upscale deli with a large selection of meats and cheeses. Also wide variety of crackers,…read morespreads, prepared meals, fruits, veggies...they've got it all but only the best!!