Nood is located in the new Apex shopping precinct opposite Sylvia Park. Its a fairly new…read moreestablishment and out of habit I always like to visit if I'm the area. What makes Nood so interesting is that they have a lot of very different products at different price points. From novelty mini books and plush toys to very expensive duvets, Nood certainly doesn't put itself under one umbrella. The Apex store is very big and split in two and red and black are the dominant colours in here- I love the decor in here. On one side you have a lot of bedding, room furniture, knick knacks, clocks; on the other is kitchenware (I love their stuff on this side!) and a few bargain items too. Their high end items are great to look at; there have been a few clocks I've definitely been eyeing up! But a lot of their products are hugely design-based and really seem like one of a kind/limited edition type stuff. On the other end of the spectrum they've got some affordable items, particularly their glasses and other kitchenware, and their sales are always worth making time for. I only own one item from Nood and its this awesome bullet cocktail shaker- since I received it as a gift I've been looking for a few more things to add to my Nood collection!

This is a cute little store hidden away in the back of Titirangi village…read more It is filled with the sweetest little gift items for others, with all items stemming from kiwi influence. In this shop you can find things like kiwi-ana memorabilia, like vintage looking kitchen wear like aprons, oven mitts and table cloths. Also kiwi posters and paintings, and green stone jewellery. I like that this store is here in the village, as it is perfect for buying gifts for family friends and especially for visiting tourists. What I don't like is that it is a bit on the expensive side, which I think is a little unnecessary.

Gecko is hidden a bit off the main street in Titirangi Village with big glass windows that look out…read moreonto the bush below, making for a very appropriate setting to browse their sweet range of mostly NZ themed gifts (although there is definitely some internationally imported stock in the mix as well). It was a perfect place to find a present for a friend of mine who lives overseas, as most of the NZ gifts were all really quite tasteful (not the generic tacky touristy stuff you find in a lot of gift shops nowadays). However if you aren't looking for a NZ themed gift then Gecko still has you sorted - you could probably find a present for everyone in the family here due to the diverse range of stuff available (from old fashioned games and toys to funky clocks to locally-designed wall hangings). The shop assistant was very friendly and packaged my present up perfectly so as to minimise costs when sending it overseas. Definitely a place worth a visit if you are out West.

I always find something in Acquisitions that surprises me. Just when I think novelty gifts couldn't…read moreget any quirkier, they surpass my expectations. Acquisitions is filled with anything and everything, so if you haven't got time for a good browse, the staff are always happy to point you in the right direction. I particularly like their range of greeting cards. The pop-up ones here are awesome and they're great for something a little different and fun when giving a gift to someone. The last time I was there, I saw a great artwork of the American flag and writing this really makes me wish I'd bought it now! They do a lot of Kiwiana stuff too, so its great if you're looking for a little piece of New Zealand. I always come back to Acquisitions for small gifts, because the service is exceptional. One guy I remember was super nice, not pushy at all and knew the products inside out. My partner and I had a great conversation with him and he helped us find what we were looking for. A grade service! I only wish this place was a little more central in the mall, so more people would get a look in. Its great for a nosy and you never know when you'll be heading back there for those champagne flutes, that cute key ring or last-minute stag party supplies.

This is pretty much the perfect place to buy a gift for your mum or grandma. They have lots of…read morelittle trinkets and ornaments and that kind of thing, perfect for a Christmas present or mother's day. This is also a cool place if you want to buy some unique souvenirs, not the usual boring kiwi souvenirs that you find in every generic souvenir shop, here they have some cool handcrafted Kiwiana. I think that is the coolest thing about this store, but they also have plenty of other things for sale like home ware and cooking utensils. You know, all that stuff that your nana would love. For guys, it's one of those shops that you kind of want to just get in, buy a gift, and get out, and the layout of this store makes it pretty easy to do just that.

The Looksharp empire has a few different branches now but this big shop in Onehunga in the best use…read moreof the old Woolworths/Deka building I've seen in a long time. While it probably doesn't get as much as foot traffic, it's worth the drive - even if you just visit this one shop. It's basically an Asian super-store, full of all the things we've come to expect but crucially MORE. There's just more products and BETTER products - there's an entire "naughty" section here as well as an entire range of inflatables. Need an inflatable palm tree for your living room? This is your place. There's neck ties, fake flowers, party supplies, home supplies, kitchen stuff; you can easily spend several hours here treasure hunting. Best of all, you will find items that are available at upmarket gift stores for the price they really should cost - buggar all.

Unfortunately Looksharp is only a recent discovery of mine and I wish I'd known about this sooner!…read moreOnehunga is probably one of the quieter branches but is still packed to the brim with a lot of things you may or may not need. A friend and I visited when everything in store was 30% off- and to think that Looksharp prices are already really reasonable, we definitely stockpiled on a few things! We made the trip because she was having a luau-themed birthday party- Looksharp had just about everything we were hoping to get! Flower leis, an inflatable floral ukelele, palm tree drinking glasses, bamboo torches, lei bracelets, floral dishes; I could go on! We did catch ourselves making jokes such as "wouldn't it be awesome if they had....", only to find said item seconds later. The selection there was great and I'd come back in a heartbeat for any party goods and decorations. I'm huge on gifts so I loved seeing all of their goodie bags, chinese boxes in an assortment of colours, as well as their scrapbooking section- everything was so well-priced, much cheaper than getting similar products somewhere else, like Spotlight. There's literally so much at Looksharp, I'd make the trip only because I have a feeling it won't be your last!

Stationery stores have become huge over the last couple of years with the likes of Typo and…read moreSmiggle. In my fair and honest opinion, Smiggle has nothing on Typo. But in their defence I think their products or more aimed at kids and I know my sister gets lots of stuff from here for her classroom (she is a teacher). The thing I do like about Smiggle is how colourful the stores are, and how everything is colour coordinated. If I didn't get my stationery for free I would probably get more stuff from here, but I do always come and have a look for ideas for presents for my cousins and they always seem to like the stuff from here.

I swear this place has gone from dinky trinkets to bonafide cool stuff !…read moreGone are the pens and lap top covers (tho they still have those )and IN are quirkily printed plates and mugs AND duvet covers . With cool and on trend prints , this would be my go to if I suddenly had a need to do a room make-over . They are run through the Cotton On brand , so some stuff can be a cheap like . A cool place to check out .

I don't normally have a stationery fetish. I don't like looking at pens, staplers, paper clips or…read morestickers for any amount of time in a normal shop. Well, then they opened Typo. An awesome joint, they not only sell good quality, good priced stationery, but also cheap as chips notebooks which read 'Happier than a bird with a french fry' and other such larks. They sell mugs (Try Snoopy showing his muscles with the inscription 'Check out dem puppies'), paintings (mostly lovely french styles), vintage items (a classy looking cord phone with a dial - yes, a dial! So quaint!), cardboard speakers, ornaments (owls are the latest fetish) and other such lovely things you couldn't hope to find in another store. The Sylvia Park Typo is the best one to visit if you live out east, and is a great place to buy presents. The store members are kind, helpful and offer you a little basket if you have your hands full.

Walker & Hall, in particular the Botany branch, is one my favourite jewellery stores. It stocks all…read morethe brands I enjoy browsing through and has really been a godsend for beautiful gifts for friends. The store itself is narrow but there's enough room to walk around and browse through. The ladies here are usually quite good at giving you some breathing space- it can take a while to really find that one great piece!- and are always willing to gift wrap something up for me, a really nice touch. There's a great combination of stuff in here, at the price points start pretty low (at least for good jewellery). The ever popular Karen Walker line is a staple here of course; whether you're after something sterling silver or pure gold, you'll find it. Stolen Girlfriends Club is prominent here aswell and they've got some great contemporary pieces- I just about want to buy all of them! Meadowlark also does some beautiful jewellery- I love their stacker rings and and pendants, and they've also got some funky charms if you're into those too. I love Pandora rings, they are so good for everyday wear and I love the plain colours they do- Walker & Hall has a great selection of these aswell. Whether its an epic engagement ring or another piece to add to your collection, Walker & Hall is really just fabulous. There's so much variety in the items they stock and its all great New Zealand brands. A great way to support national talent as well as making a worthwhile purchase.

Colette by Colette Hayman is a newly popular jewellery store that first popped up on our radars…read morewhen it debuted in Westfield Manukau. It's a tiny thing of a store and five people looks like fifteen, but I think it's great. The girls here are pretty lovely and when they're not serving customers they always seem to be busy putting more stock out for customers. Colette is home to an array of great jewellery at really affordable prices. I've gotten a pair of earrings, a necklace and a bracelet here for $20 and that's just the retail price. They are always on-trend so they house statement pieces, bright neon colours, soft shades and your classic black, silver and gold. I really like that they have a lot of items that you could mix and match together, whether its a necklace and bracelet or earrings and a ring. It's very easy to be tempted by this store because there's so much to look at. Colette also sells beautiful clutches, purses and bags of all shapes and sizes. They're on a higher price point than the jewellery but I do like their designs. I love the small bags they do with long straps, those are great value for money and mine has stood the test of time so far, staying in perfect condition. Their clutches are great and my gold sequin clutch from Colette is a great accessory for almost any outfit; its a great place to get that staple piece that will stay on trend for a while.