Nestled comfortably into the very hip and stylish high street is this amazing arty craft store. I…read morelove this store as it reflects the beauty of our country. The shop is not a huge store however has so much selling that you are just spoilt for choice. The owners have put their heart into the foundations and you feel this, as you browse the shelves. If you want to buy an original kiwi gift, this is where you should look. The highlight of this store for me is the Home Textiles Range, really vibrant and creative designs on Table cloths, Table Runners, Tea Towels, and Cushions too, all reflecting creativity, and culture, and it makes me remember that we are living in the largest pacific island city . Worth a look in, even if you can't afford it, step in for some free inspiration.

My first thought when I walk in is always "Are you a tourist shop, or aren't you?". I just can't…read morework it out. But that doesn't mean I don't quite like Pauanesia - it's got a nice range of giftware featuring local designers and makers. I especially love the big stuffed kiwi made from old woolen blankets they have in at the moment. They also have some quite nice jewellery, mostly pendants and rings, and gifty kind of things suitable for, well, tourists? Or maybe people that just quite like New Zealand. Or people overseas who you send gifts to that have a 'kiwi feel' to them. Is it tacky? Is it cute? I think it might be somewhere in between.

I love shopping for whanau and friends have done since they were in Kingsland I will we in next…read moreThursday our neice engagement in 3weeks in Brisbane so our perfect gift will be of the two pieces of double half greenstone hearts, also our sister also living in Brisbane since she was 22yrs will be. celebrating her 65th birthday not sure on a gift but I am sure I will find somethink special for her also. I would recommended any person looking for somethink special you will not be disappointed.

Amazing place! Lovely staff. Huge selection in such a small store. Very fair prices...or I should…read moresay after you look elsewhere, buy here! We love jade - from Big Sur California to Chinese jade. So seeing jade from New Zealand was on our list. We bought many pieces for ourselves and as gifts. And even a few inexpensive treats for granddaughters. We took a cab from our hotel as it seems a bit hidden. But check it out - then get on with your vacation!

This is one of my favourite stores to shop for the children I love. I know that they won't be…read moregetting a duplicate from someone else, and that what I buy them will spark their imaginations and be used in play for years. Not only are the toy and game selections both unique and well-made, but the staff are very knowledgeable about their offerings and make expert suggestions on what items are good for different age groups. They have also been polite and friendly on every visit. This store never fails to delver on every level.

Ran in here on a Sunday afternoon to grab a present for a one year old. Not the cheapest place to…read morego but the range in here is special and gorgeous and The Garden Party are a passionate supporter of Kiwi-made products. All the bases are covered and this is where I would prefer people shop for me : ) You won't find any of these items stocked at The Warehouse or K-Mart and I am happy to pay more for the local designer items - they are really beautiful. There's funny stuff, cool stuff, pretty stuff, home stuff, kids' stuff and more. Oh yeah and garden stuff. There's art and jewellery and a range of special cards. After a quick browse I asked the nice lady for some help and we settled on Baa Baa Smart Sheep, an award-winning book about poo by Mark and Rowan Sommerset, along with an Alphabet Wall Chart featuring such child-genius words as Astrophysicist. Not everything is crazy expensive (these two items weren't) and in future I'm going to try and get here for all my gift purchases because why wouldn't you? Everything about it is better - no plastic crap from China and the pleasure of giving something just a little bit different.

More than anything else here, the fact that you can always find friendly and helpful service in a…read morePonsonby gift store astounds me. I have consistently been greeted in a cheery fashion by the staff at The Garden Party, whether browsing or gift hunting. And this is certainly a great gift shop to browse in, combining the fancy gift stores of Parnell with some great Kiwi flair, so they don't have the tacky "New Zealand souvenir" feel. A fantastic store, showcasing New Zealand talent, nostalgia and humour; a brilliant shop for impressing friends overseas with something other than postcards of Cape Reinga. A big hit are tea-towels designer by Melina Martin and the Lynskey sisters (yes, cool tea-towels).

I don't really know what I was expecting from this store when I walked in. Maybe a shop full of…read moreelephant crafts. Elephant shaped things? Are there any elephants in this store? The answer is no, I couldn't find any. On the bright side they do have some other nice things that aren't elephant related. Lots of little knick knacks and crafts all specially handcrafted by Homegrown artisans. Now that can't be a bad thing! It's a really good place to come if you are looking for a very 'kiwi' gift to send to friends and families overseas. And there's a whole lot of kauri/ wood ware. I mean a WHOLE lot. I think maybe they should rename it to something with wood in the title. It might be more reflective of the product they do actually stock.

An absolute nightmare…read more I was excited when I read the reviews and decided to visit. However, when I shipped over $500 worth of gifts it arrived poorly packed and completely destroyed. It has been months and they say they will reimburse me, but never followed through. Also found their exact merchandise for a fraction of the cost elsewhere. Feel completely ripped off. Do yourself a favor. Go somewhere else!

In a word? Hankies…read more Hankies for gentlemen. Hankies for ladies. Hankies singularly or in pretty packs. Tucked away in the Howick Village Square, this shop is like a piece of nostalgia wrapped in a bundle of retro. It inspired me to start sending birthday cards with a hanky tucked inside as the present; humble, heartfelt, and deliciously vintage. They also have an excellent range of greeting cards at incredible prices, and a range of books and toys, even some exquisite hand knitted items. The ladies that work there are so sweet, and the proceeds go to charity, so I recommend picking up some extra hankies for yourself while you're at it.

One thing is for sure, shoppers are definitely spoilt for choice at Escapade boutique gift store in…read morethe heart of Oneroa's main street. I recently visited looking for a teenager's birthday present and found just the thing, colourful beaded bracelets which were beautifully gift wrapped as part of the transaction. Jan, the owner of Escapade is passionate about showcasing a great range of stylish and upmarket products in her store. This ranges from gorgeous jewellery to clothing like women's dresses, scarves and sun hats. There is a nice range of New Zealand products including possum fur gear and Kiwiana souveniers to mention a few. They have hammocks, placemats, picture frames, wind chimes and beach bags. Whether you are "just browsing" as part of a relaxed beachy day on Waiheke Island or after a serious purchase then pop into Escapade.

Don't think this is just a beautiful shop to buy beautiful things for your mum. There's is…read moresomething for everyone here and you'll be surprised by all the unexpected cool stuff you just might want to get for yourself. The lady who runs Kinder Arts is lovely and treats her customers like old friends. The things she chooses to sell are just gorgeous and often you won't see them anywhere else - there's a range of silk velvet handbags in gemstone colours and various shapes that are so stunning I used one for my wedding. There's artworks, jewellery, fashion accessories (a lot of GREAT handbags, I LOVE bags), homewares, toys, even garden features and statuary. There's gift ideas big and small and nothing is ridiculously overpriced as is so often the case in these kinds of boutiques. I particularly love the Kiwiana bent to a lot of the products and the artworks are a really affordable way to put something beautiful on your walls. It's the kind of shop where even the kids like coming. Aside from the toys and other kids' stuff, my boys always talk about how cool the giant wooden spiral tower (for marbles) at the back is. And they are always welcome to play with it even if things get a little bit noisy and overexcited. Nice.

Even though this store is aimed toward older women, I often find myself returning to browse (the…read morestore not the older women). Kinder Arts easily entices me with busy crowded window displays, where every colour jostles for attention and recognition. This gift store has scarves and jewellery for your grandmother but also children's gifts. They have an outdoor retreat full of water features and concrete statues. The have mass-produced art done by some poor Indonesians depicting everything from Tintin pop art to Renaissance inspired canvases. Kinder Art has an eye boggling amount of knickknacks and gifts, with constantly rotated displays. As they are open most weekends, it is a nice store to waste away a lazy Sunday.