7 Best Places to Shop in East Coast and the Volcanic Zone, New Zealand

Āhua is the embodiment and outlet for work that is the reason Te Puia was established in 1963 to preserve Māori heritage and crafts. At the institute you can watch master wood-carvers and expert flax weavers at work and see New Zealand greenstone (jade) sculpted into jewelry. You will find fine examples of this work, and the prices ranging from a few hundred dollars for simple carved pieces to thousands of dollars for museum-quality sculptures that reflect quality and workmanship.

Look for beautifully made, high-quality jade items in this bright, spacious shop.

This fascinating spot sells opossum products and houses a minimuseum about the opossum's effects on New Zealand's environment. Fur items include hats, gloves, and rugs; a soft blend of merino wool and opossum fur is also made into sweaters, scarves, and socks.

Collectors will find this shop a treasure trove for vintage precious and semi-precious jewelry, sterling silver, glass, crystal and kiwiana (items and icons from New Zealand's heritage). There's also a fine selection of paintings by New Zealand artists of gallery quality alongside bric-a-brac. 

This artist-run hot glass studio and gallery offers live demonstrations four days a week at 12:30 pm. Its collection includes a mix of high-end sculpture, glass tapestries, and souvenirs.

Napier's Art Deco Trust takes its role as an arbiter of the movement's style and maintains a perfectly laid-out shop that sells everything from table lamps to ceramics, as well as a selection of hats, toys, jewelry, rugs, and wineglasses. Aficionados of art deco will find a range of reproduction items here that speak to the era without eye-watering prices.

This spot stocks an excellent range of New Zealand gifts and souvenirs from carved greenstone or jade to woven bags and more.