The Best New Zealand Souvenirs to Take Home

Unique and modern New Zealand art prints

 

If you’re travelling around New Zealand, one of my favourite parts of the journey is discovering beautiful things to take home.

Of course, there’s nothing wrong with a classic Kiwi souvenir, but if you’re looking for something a little more special - something beautifully designed, made with care and genuinely connected to Aotearoa - there are some wonderful choices.

As a New Zealand artist based in Wānaka, I’m particularly drawn to souvenirs that capture something about our landscape, materials, culture and sense of place. These are some of my favourites.

 

1. Pounamu - a piece of New Zealand with meaning

Pounamu, or New Zealand greenstone, has to be near the top of my list.

Found naturally on the South Island’s West Coast, pounamu has deep cultural significance to Māori and has traditionally been carved into taonga - treasured objects and adornments with personal and cultural meaning. 

You’ll find beautiful pendants in traditional forms such as the toki, koru, hei matau and hei tiki. Rather than simply choosing something because it looks beautiful, you can also ask about the meaning behind the design and where it was made.

There is also a lovely tradition associated with pounamu: many people believe it should be given as a gift rather than purchased for yourself. Whether or not you follow that tradition, it certainly makes a pounamu pendant a particularly meaningful present for someone you love. 

My tip: Look for a reputable carver or gallery and ask about the provenance of the pounamu and the story behind the carving. A beautifully made piece will feel very different from a mass-produced souvenir. One of the best places to buy pounamu is directly from the South Island Maori tribe - Ngai Tahu - who are the official owners of the stone and manage the sustainability of this precious resource. Dark Sky Project in Lake Tekapo is a Ngai Tahu owned stargazing experience with a beautiful gift shop selling ethical pounamu and many other high quality Aotearoa made products.

A beautiful Pounamu pendant makes a meaningful memento of Aotearoa but it must be bought from a reputable source

 

 

2. Māori carvings - art that tells a story

For something with real cultural depth, seek out authentic Māori carving.

Whakairo (Māori carving) is a highly respected art form with a long history in Aotearoa NZ. Traditional wood carving uses native timbers including tōtara and kauri, and carvings can communicate stories, history, identity and whakapapa (ancestry).  

I think this is where buying a souvenir becomes something much more meaningful. You can bring home a piece of art that connects you to the history and culture of the place you have visited.

When choosing a Māori carving, take the time to learn about the artist, the materials and the meaning of the design. Galleries, cultural centres and specialist Māori artists are wonderful places to start. If you're looking for the convenience of shopping online and having your Māori carving sent to your home then take a look at Silver Fern Gallery based in Queenstown.

New Zealand has a thriving contemporary arts and crafts scene too, so don't assume Māori art has to look traditional. There are many artists creating beautiful contemporary work while drawing on generations of cultural knowledge.

 

A beautiful carved tiki with paua shell eyes from Silver Fern Gallery

 

3. Pāua - a little piece of the ocean

If you love colour, you’ll find it hard to resist pāua.

Pāua is a New Zealand species of abalone, famous for its extraordinary blue, green and purple iridescent shell. Māori have traditionally used pāua shell as a decorative material, including for the eyes of carved figures, and today it appears in jewellery, decorative objects and contemporary design. 

For me, the appeal of good pāua design is its natural variation. No two pieces have quite the same combination of colour and pattern.

Look beyond the more obvious tourist-shop items and seek out contemporary jewellery, small sculptures, bowls or beautifully designed decorative pieces. Pāua can be incredibly sophisticated when it is used thoughtfully and some really beautiful examples of the can be found at The Poi Room.

Paua Shell ring from The Poi Room

 

And remember that taking natural materials or seafood overseas can be subject to restrictions, both in New Zealand and in your destination country. Always check the current rules before travelling. 

 

 

4. Merino – luxury you can actually use

A beautiful merino jumper, scarf or pair of socks might not sound like the most exciting souvenir — until you experience really good New Zealand merino.

Our merino wool is particularly associated with the South Island’s high-country landscapes, and there are some wonderful New Zealand designers creating contemporary clothing and accessories from this incredibly versatile fibre.

I love merino as a travel souvenir because it isn't something that will sit forgotten on a shelf. A beautiful merino layer becomes part of your life - and every time you wear it, you have a reminder of your New Zealand travels.

Look for quality garments made from New Zealand-sourced wool where possible, and seek out local designers such as Perriam for luxury clothing and Mons Royale for sportswear. 

Perriam in Tarras produces a beautiful collection of luxury merino garments for women, men and babies. If you're travelling from Lake Tekapo to Wānaka/Queenstown you will pass through Tarras which is a gorgeous village with the cutest shops and is well worth a stop on your travels!

Mons Royale is a Wānaka sportswear brand that is taking merino clothing to the world!

 

5. New Zealand art – take home the landscape

This is probably my favourite option!

One of the most special things about travelling is the connection we develop with particular places. Maybe you stood beneath Aoraki / Mount Cook at sunrise. Perhaps you hiked around Wānaka, explored the glaciers and Lake Matheson on the West Coast, watched the Southern Alps disappear into the clouds, or fell in love with the colours of a particular lake.

Why not bring that feeling home?

 

Gallery Wall of some of my New Zealand art prints

I created Bridget Hall Design around this idea: art that reminds you of a place and how it made you feel.

I’m an artist based in Wānaka, and much of my work is inspired by the mountains and landscapes of New Zealand. My own connection with the Southern Alps goes back to growing up in Wānaka, and my background as a skier has taken me into mountain landscapes around New Zealand, North America and Europe. 

My New Zealand collection includes modern interpretations of places including Wānaka, Aoraki Mount Cook, Lake Matheson, Lake Tekapo, Queenstown and other memorable landscapes around the country. My art prints are shipped FREE WORLDWIDE so you can order online and have the artwork waiting for you when you arrive home.

I love the idea that a visitor might see a mountain or lake during their travels, have an experience there that stays with them, and then discover an artwork that brings that memory back to life once they're home.

And unlike a bulky souvenir, a beautiful art print can become part of your home rather than simply reminding you that you went on holiday.

Explore Bridget Hall Design’s New Zealand art collection

 

Modern Milford Sound Art Print

Roy's Peak View, Wanaka NZ

 

Fox Glacier Art Print

 

6. Small designer souvenirs for your suitcase

Not everyone has room in their suitcase for a framed artwork or a chunky piece of sculpture, and that’s where small designer souvenirs come in.

I’ve created a collection of New Zealand wooden fridge magnets featuring modern illustrations inspired by our native birds, plants and iconic places. They're designed and made in New Zealand and are deliberately a little more contemporary and high quality than the traditional souvenir. 

These eco-friendly fridge magnets are the perfect souvenir for somebody that loves stylish design.

I also have a collection of New Zealand themed greeting cards that work beautifully as designer mementos to take home. They’re easy to pack, easy to give, and carry a sense of where you’ve been.

Choose from my large range of modern NZ Greeting Cards.

 

7. Choose something made by a New Zealand designer

Perhaps my biggest piece of advice is this: look for the maker.

New Zealand has an incredibly creative community, from potters and jewellers to glass blowers, printmakers, textile artists and contemporary Māori artists. Some of the most memorable souvenirs are the ones where you know the name of the person who made them.

Visit local galleries, artist studios, independent design stores and craft markets as you travel. Places such as Wānaka, Queenstown, Nelson, Waiheke Island, Rotorua and many smaller towns have wonderful creative communities. 

If you don't manage to find the time to shop as you travel you can find my whole range of NZ art here and the added bonus of free worldwide shipping on all of my prints. 

 

The best souvenirs are the ones that tell a story

For me, the perfect New Zealand souvenir isn't necessarily the most expensive thing you can buy.

It’s something that makes you remember.

A piece of pounamu can remind you of the South Island and the stories connected to it. A Māori carving can introduce you to an aspect of Aotearoa’s rich cultural heritage. Pāua can bring back memories of our coastline. A soft merino scarf can remind you of the crisp mountain air.

And a piece of New Zealand art can take you straight back to the landscape that made you stop, look and think, I wish I could take this view home with me.

That, ultimately, is what I love about souvenirs. They aren't really about the object. They're about the memory attached to it.

So when you’re travelling around New Zealand, look beyond the standard souvenir shops. Find something beautifully made, learn the story behind it, and choose something that you’ll still love long after your flight home.

And if your favourite New Zealand memory happens to involve a mountain, lake or landscape, I’d love to help you bring a little piece of that feeling home.

- Bridget

Bridget Hall Design – Modern New Zealand Landscape Art