New Zealand Shopping Tips by vtveen Top 5 Page for this destination

shop of the Tairawhiti Museum: a Maori bag

It is not the shop, but more or less the kind of gifts, which are special.

We saw a lot of New Zealand's women wearing bags of woven flax. They are called 'kete' after a Maori name. It means 'basket'. Maori people used the kete for carrying their food, belongings and treasures.

Kete's now are in all forms and colours. Specially along the east coast of the North Island - between Napier and Gisborne - we found very professional and beautiful examples. There are a lot of small shops and galleries selling kete's.
One of them with some very nice examples was the shop of the Tairawhiti Museum in Gisborne.

What to pay: depends on the size, but will be from around NZD 50,-

Address: Tairawhiti Museum, Stout Street, Gisborne

Theme: Local Craft

Website: http://www.tairawhitimuseum.org.nz

The Jade Boulder Gallery: Greenstone from New Zealand

Greenstone or Jade is one of the gems of New Zealand. It is found on the South Island in the area around Hokitika and Greymouth. Off course you can buy your jade gift everywhere in the country, but we found it appropriate to do it on the South Island.

The Jade Boulder Gallery in Greymouth is a very special and unique shop for designed jade sculptures and jewellery.
To understand more of the New Zealand greenstone they do have in the shop a so called 'Discovery Walkway'.

What to buy: Jade jewellery

Address: 1 Guinness St, Greymouth, West Coast

Directions: in the centre of Greymouth, West Coast, South Island

Theme: Jewelry

Website: http://www.jadeboulder.com

Gift Shop White Island Tours: The smell of New Zealand

Specially in the geo thermal areas of New Zealand people always smell the particular 'perfume' of sulphur. We found it a good idea to bring this smell to our friends in the Netherlands and decided to buy pieces of sulphur soap for them.

The shop belongs to White Island Tours and is almost the only possibility for buying gifts of White Island.

What to buy: Most typical is off course a piece of Volcanic Sulphur Soap, so our friends can also smell 'New Zealand' for a long long time.

Address: White Island Tours, 15 The Strand East, Whakatane

Theme: Gifts

Website: http://www.whiteisland.co.nz

The Paua Shell Factory and Shop: Paua from the factory

This shop or factory has everything what has been made of paua (or abalone). And believe that is a lot. Most of them are more or less knick knacks. But off course there are very special things to buy, like paua jewellery.

Perhaps more interesting is the free factory tour to see how the rough shells are being crafted. There is also an informative video about the life of the Paua.

What to buy: Paua: shells, 'nick nacks', jewellery

What to pay: from one dollar till .....

Address: 54 Kent Street, Carterton, Wairarapa

Directions: 500 metres from SH 2 between Wellington and napier in the town of Carterton

Theme: Gifts

Website: http://www.pauashell.co.nz

Living Light Candles: Candles with New Zealand nature and culture ....

Off course we found everywhere in the country tourist shops with candles, often even with candles made by Living Light Candles. But it is appropriate to buy these gifts at the factory, situated in Takaka, Golden Bay.

We did like most the candles with the so called culture candles (with green stone or paua) and those with natural icons like dolphins and penguins. They were really original gifts for our friends and family at home.

But in the shop you will find a lot more different candles in all sizes and colours.

What to pay: from a couple of dollars till .....

Address: Tukurua, Takaka, Golden Bay

Directions: about 18 km's north west of Takaka on a side road of highway 60 to Collingwood.

Theme: Gifts

Website: http://www.livinglightcandles.com