This Redcurrent is such a stunning store, it smells great too thanks to all the MOR, Ecoya and…read moreGlasshouse products, usually there are candles burning in store too. This is a fail safe gift store for females, so many pretty things. The range of kitchenware and tableware is fantastic and I am always surprised by how reasonable the prices are, some stuff is actually rather cheap. A wonderful array of ceramic and glassware items can be found amongst the shelves and birds must be in right now because there are bird candles, glass domes with birds on them and birds painted on ceramics, bird ornaments ... feeling like you need a bird something in your home now? I am. Redcurrent also sell Pashmina, the proper ones. They are beautiful and come in many lovely colours. There are a few other accessories, some leather goods and cotton scarves and jewelry. It is hard to walk out without something and if need be, Redcurrent offer a gift wrapping service.

I love Redcurrent and this was the first of their shops I ever visited…read more My ideal trip to Newmarket always includes ducking down Morrow Street to pop into Redcurrent and then go on to Zarbo for lunch. Don't ever go in unless you have money to spend though, otherwise you'll inevitably end up leaving empty-handed and pining after some little trinket you just can't imagine living without. Unless you are a little less dramatic in nature than me, that is. My favourite things at Redcurrent are their plentiful stock of both the small and large Glasshouse brand scented candles, which I reckon are the best ever. They also stay well-stocked of absolutely gorgeous mid-range jewellery, some really sweet gift ideas for babies and toddlers (including clothing and toys), and some extemely lust-worthy handbags. Redcurrent Newmarket is the perfect place to find a homewares-type gift or a not-too-guilty indugence for yourself.

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 first came across Seletti in Queenstown about 5 years ago. I used to marvel at their collection…read moreof homewares - dinner plates with well-known city maps or brightly coloured, geometric wine glasses. At the time, I was living in a scungy flat in Dunedin so could only dream about owning such delightful grown-up items. Well, 5 years have passed and I still don't have my own place but I have moved to Auckland and so has Seletti. To Britomart and Newmarket in fact. They still have a great range of fun, stylish homewares as well a cabinet full of brightly coloured jewellery and a small but well selected range of clothes (think basics in luxe materials). And whilst, I may not have my own place, other do and it's a great shop for presents. Housewarmings, engagements...the lot. Just be sure to go in with a friend (or two) cos this stuff ain't cheap

This was a beautiful shop! Such a lovely place to buy some New Zealand made items to remember my…read moretrip by. I will recommend this trip to everyone I know!

Mixt Art and Design is one of my favourite places to find great Kiwi inspired gifts and unusual but…read morebrilliant wee retro knick-knacks and decorations. Fantastic embroidery, sculptures, platters, vases, pillows, books and wall decals are just a few of the funky finds that Mixt offers. I recently became obsessed with the wall decals they stock - brightly coloured and incorporating my favourite things - animals and flowers, the decals are also reusable so you can move them around your room without worrying about ripping the paint. What's not to love? Another great thing about Mixt is the price. Though most of the products Mixt stocks are made locally, everything is still really reasonably priced and you can feel good about supporting Kiwi creators too! Having recently relocated to the building right next door, the new Mixt store is spotless and funky and compliments the stock as well as the women that work there. Next time you're looking for that perfect gift, or want to liven up your room, make sure you check out Mixt!

This place is the first thing that comes to my mind when I think of Remuera shops, it has become…read moresomewhat of a landmark for Remas and it reminds me a lot of being young and visiting with my parents. It is quite an expensive store but it has some beautiful items and the ladies that work in here are always incredibly nice and easy to talk to. It's an excellent place to come for a gift especially for someone who is into homewares e.g. your Mum or Grandma. They stock brands such as Le Creuset, Scanpan, Donna Hay and Bodum. If you are into fine chocolates, Trumps is a stockist of Bennetts of Mangawhai (they make amazing chocolates right here in NZ). You can register your weddings gifts too so that your guests find it easy to choose something and they will have the comfort of knowing it is something that you want. They also take really good passport photos here!

I had a disappointing experience with this store…read more I received my order and immediately noticed that the clothes had a very strong fragrance smell. Given that I ordered premium organic children's clothing, this was quite concerning and contrary to what many parents expect - minimal processing and no added scents. They also sell diffusers and candles, which may explain the scent contamination. I emailed the same day I received the package to request a return and refund. It then took a full week to receive a response, which simply instructed me to return the items to a warehouse address, with no clear process. I replied the same day asking reasonable questions -such as the warehouse opening hours, whether I could drop the items off in person. It has now been another week with no response. This was also confusing because their company policy states that online orders can be returned to any of their retail stores. This would have been far more convenient, as they have multiple locations with set opening hours and staff available, so you know you can actually speak to someone and have the return handled properly. Overall, the lack of communication, slow response times, and inconsistency with their stated return policy have been very frustrating. For a brand positioning itself as premium, I expected much better customer service and handling of returns. I would also caution other parents who prefer unscented, minimally treated baby clothing to keep this in mind when ordering.

Father Rabbit is the absolute best. It seriously turns me into a gushing 16 year old. They've got…read morebeautiful, beautiful homewares, candles, children's clothing and there's a small amount of adult clothing too. This store is larger than their Ponsonby one and is located inside Bloc, which is dangerous in itself. But back to F.R, the brands they stock are all seriously stunning - lots of whites, neutrals and soft pastels.... it's my dream to make my house look like this one day... Not surprisingly, Father Rabbit has become my go-to for gifts. It isn't outrageously expensive and they've got a wide range of products, something for everyone. Check it out next time you're in Mt Eden....the ultimate one stop shop.

This is a great shop for picking up unique presents that once unwrapped, won't immediately scream…read moretheir price point at the recipient. And if you're looking for a bigger commitment, the furniture is pretty much unique within Auckland. Buana Satu has changed a lot over the years. It's evolved from something more along the lines of The Third Eye, into a more upmarket, modern haven of unique art and homewares like rugs, bags, cushions, and crockery. When I last visited I was completely smitten with the little mermaid sculptures hanging on the wall - glittery, kitsch, and with little moko. So adorable. And surprisingly inexpensive. There are a lot of things with a slight kiwi bent available here, but they're definitely not souvenirs. They're much nicer than that. In sum, it's a kind of "I bought this for someone but on second thoughts I might just keep it for myself" haven.

This store really surprised me. From the outside it looks like it's going to be your typically…read moreoverpriced home-wares store, but on closer inspection, it's actually got some rather nice little Kiwi-centric gifts such as traditional greenstone necklaces and other New Zealand made jewellery. It's a really great gift shop to find things for friends or family abroad and even better for visitors to the country to buy something distinctly Kiwi to take home with them. I also really like the selection of Buddhas they have in the store, made from stone and resin and available in a variety of sizes and styles. It's a spacious store, with nice lighting and relaxing music on the stereo. making for a very pleasant browsing experience and the lovely guy behind the counter really knew what he was talking about when I made an enquiry.

It was nice to see such a lovely little shop pop up in Birkenhead, since, let's face it, the…read moreshopping area itself is a bit down-at-heel. Crave and a few other little cutesy boutiques are giving this shopping centre a new spark of life, which is fantastic. From the outside the shop is very enticing, with a great mix of funky homewares and a few gift items thrown in the mix. My personal opinion is this shop is a bit over-priced though. I picked up a few items to see the price tag and almost immediately set them back down again. As cute as a box of stripey paper straws is, I'm not paying $12.50 for it. Perhaps if they got in a few reasonably priced options I'd be back.

Crave is a top quality home and gift store that is a new comer to the classic Birkenhead shops…read more Located at the corner of Mokoia Rd in Birkenhead, you will be in for a delightful shopping experience at this stylish boutique. They are award winning as of 2012 receiving a retail excellence award- so enough stated really. If you wondering what to buy a friend or family member who seems to have everything and anything. You might be lucky in finding a few special pieces in this original gift and home store. Stylish cushions and jewellery are my fave's here, because they have flair and style and standout with oomph! The staff are friendly and will help with your needs, all you need to do is call out. If you have found that perfect pressie they will also wrap it up to look gorgeous darling! A real shopping experience with class and sophistication.