2023 Taranaki Green Gifting Guide
In Taranaki where green living takes centre stage, finding the perfect gift for the sustainable enthusiast in your life can be a challenge. However, this guide will help you embrace the eco-friendly and discover a collection of local and thoughtful presents that not only reflect your appreciation for their passion, but also contribute to a greener, more sustainable future. This Taranaki Green Gifting Guide is your compass to navigating the realm of sustainable gifting with ease.
Local & Sustainable Gifts Ideas
Be Natural
An alternative to toxic chemical products, Be Natural uses only pure, organic and natural ingredients to produce their range of body soap bars, lip balms and cleaning supplies. Their entire range is vegetarian and 100% Palm Oil Free. Part of the movement against single use plastic, the local business stocks plastic free household items. You can purchase these great gifts at The Collaboration in New Plymouth or find out more at benaturalsoap.co.nz.
All Good Bags
Small local Taranaki business All Good Bags creates handmade products to try and reuse, recycle and reduce waste, eliminate single use plastics and provide useful practical alternatives. Products range from felted soaps, bags, dishcloths, dryer ball, cleaning and laundry products, and produce bags. These can be bought at The Collaboration. To find out more visit www.allgoodbags.co.nz.
Olive & Co
A New Zealand based brand established in the heart of Taranaki, Olive & Co are committed to delivering hand crafted, eco-friendly, non-toxic and 100% natural soy wax candles and wax melts. Candles can be purchased at The Collaboration, or to find out more see https://oliveandconz.com.
Down to Earth Organics
Located in central New Plymouth, Down to Earth provides a wide range of organic food and products as well as fresh produce, perfect gifts for the eco-conscious. downtoearthorganics.co.nz.
Seeds
Wide varieties of seeds can be bought as gifts at Egmont Seed, as well as at the Sustainable Taranaki Envirohub and Crazy Pumpkin New Plymouth and Stratford. Egmont Seed is based in New Plymouth with online seed sales available at www.egmontseeds.co.nz.
Melo Yelo
To Mel Yelo, e-biking is more than just a fun way to explore the world around you, it’s also a sustainable and healthy mode of transportation. From commuting to work, running errands, or just enjoying a leisurely ride, every trip is a step towards being healthier and happier, and a sustainable future for our planet. If you have a higher budget, an e-bike is a great gift for the sustainability-savvy. You can visit their store in New Plymouth or find more online at meloyelo.nz.
Looking for a cheap bike for Christmas? Visit the New Plymouth Bike Kitchen in the Metro Plaza opposite Macpac on Devon Street. They are open Wednesday night from 5.30pm to 7pm and Saturday morning from 10.30am until 1pm. MANY bikes available!
Korito Education
Korito Education has been running in Taranaki since 2004, educating as many people as possible to become food producers and to look after their soil. Gift your friends a local workshop or course, featuring a range of practical gardening subjects. This included building lasagne beds, composting, worm farming, liquid fertilisers and natural garden sprays. See www.korito.co.nz for more information.
Blue Petal Botanicals
Based a few kilometres from Taranaki National Park, Blue Petal does not mass produce plants. Instead they harvest in a sustainable way and batch produce following the cycle of the seasons to ensure the products contain the most beneficial properties for wellbeing. Gifts might include honey and herbs, as well as workshops and events to help other find out more about herbs. To find out more visit bluepetalnz.com.
Everkind
Made in Taranaki, Everkind is genuinely natural, certified-organic body care. It’s good for your wellbeing, and kind to your body, people, and the planet. The company sells organic deodorants, skin-care, lip-care and baby-care products that would be perfect gifts for the eco-friendly in your life. Visit them at their New Plymouth store or head online to purchase at www.everkindnz.com.
Your Home, Naturally
Based in Inglewood, Taranaki, Your Home, Naturally is a cleaning supplies alternative that is environmentally friendly, saves money, and saves your health. Their products are grey waste safe, non-toxic and have less harsh chemicals, with all natural ingredients sourced from quality suppliers. The company aims to reuse packaging where possible, reducing waste in our environment. As well as these great products, workshops are run to help people learn to make their own natural cleaners. To purchase you can find them in store in Taranaki, or online at www.yourhomenaturally.co.nz.
Known Unknown
Based in New Plymouth, Known Unknown produced organic local wine. They strive to work with organically grown fruit and process the fruit intuitively without added yeast, mechanical intervention, fining or filtrating, and bottle with only minimal added sulfur. A great gift for those over the age of 18, visit their local store or head online to www.knownunknown.co.nz.
Use the discount “SUSTAINABLETARANAKI” and get 10% off your order online. 10% of your purchase will be donated to the Backyards Trail!
Ensure you drink responsibly.
Local Markets
Markets are great opportunities to find unique, local gifts. Within Taranaki, there are many happening before Christmas so make sure you don’t miss out!
Taranaki Farmers Market - 10th, 17th, 24th December from 9am-12pm at Huatoki Plaza, New Plymouth.
Hāwera Saturday Market - 9th, 16th, 23rd December from 9am-12.30pm at the Hawera Town Square.
The Seaside Market - 17th December at Ngāmotu Beach, New Plymouth, from 9am - 2pm.
The Pickers Market - 10th December from 10am-2pm at Ferndale Hall, New Plymouth
Te Ruru Coastal Market - 13th, 20th December from 4.30pm-6pm at Hempton Hall, Okato.
Waitara Market - 16th December, from 5pm-9pm
The Mill Market - 9th, 16th, 23rd December at The Mill cark park, New Plymouth.
Gardening Equipment
For passionate gardeners, various equipment can be purchased from Growing Potential, Big Jims and Palmers.
Mitre10 New Plymouth also has a large range of supplies for all your gardening needs. Plants can be bought at many of these stores but if unsure of exactly what they might want, vouchers always are a smart choice.
Conservation Gifts
Forest & Bird
Forest and Bird stock a wide range of gifts perfect for your eco-friendly acquaintances. Popular gifts include nature focused t-shirts, travel mugs, photographic prints and reusable honey wrap . For children, there are various picture books centred on Aotearoa’s natural history and wildlife. To purchase visit shop.forestandbird.org.nz/gifts.
Predator Free NZ
For those passionate about a predator-free New Zealand, gifts might include traps or conservation kits. Predator Free NZ sells products and equipment designed to help control invasive predators such as rats and possums, from our natural environment. Visit their online strobe at shop.predatorfreenz.org to learn more.
Taranaki Kiwi Trust
The Taranaki Kiwi Trust is an independent, charitable organisation working throughout the Taranaki region. They have an online shop where you can purchase some art, clothing and donations that will support this great local kaupapa! Visit the online shop here: www.taranakikiwi.org.nz/shop.
Rotokare Scenic Reserve
For a budding conservationist, a donation and visit to Rotokare Scenic Reserve might be appreciated. Rotokare is a community-led sanctuary in the heart of Taranaki with public walking tracks weaving around the stunning lake surrounded by lush native bush and a thriving native ecosystem. To see more, visit www.rotokare.org.nz.
Trees That Count - card game
For families Tree Snap by Trees That Count is a fun gift. The game is designed to help Kiwis spot a native tree in the wild, helping us get familiar with our native tree taonga in a fun, friendly manner. The set is environmentally friendly with bags 100% biodegradable and reusable calico cotton. The packs of 52 cards are illustrated by artist Ezra Whittaker-Powley and printed on Forest Steward Council Certified Paper.
Also by Trees That Count is their tree gifting program. You can send native tree e-cards that enable planting projects across Aotearoa. To find out more and purchase these gifts, see treesthatcount.co.nz
DIY
If you’re motivated, the best and most thoughtful gift can be something you created yourself. Upcycling objects and clothes are a great way to be sustainable and reduce consumption. There are hundreds of videos online to kickstart your imagination. Suzy, one of our Volunteers Supervisor made this beautiful wreath using upcycled material!
If you know of other stockists/retailers/suppliers/services that could fit in this article please let us know so that we can include them! Thank you!
