The Essential List 2023

2023

The Essential List

The Wellington guide to shopping local this festive season.

SHOP

DINE

Kia ora

Season’s greetings, glad tidings, and all that jazz! The best time of year has arrived and we’re here for it.

Capital has been loving local since we began (a whole decade ago!), and when it comes to your Christmas shopping, we encourage you to make a conscious effort to support local businesses when you can.

We know it’s a busy time of year, so we’ve rounded up all sorts of goodies from awesome independent businesses. You’ll find gift ideas to please foodies, fashion lovers, plant parents, hikers, bikers, and just about everyone in between. Plus, some great spots for a mid-shop pit stop, to enjoy a well-earned drink or bite to eat.

So, consider this your little shopping buddy – pop it in your pocket, and put it to good use.

Meri Kirihimete The Capital team capitalmag.co.nz

hello@capitalmag.co.nz

04 385 1426

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Village Beads

Village Beads, located in the heart of Petone, is a creative haven for beaders and jewellery enthusiasts alike, as Wellington’s only specialised bead store! Established in 2002, Village Beads is an iconic destination with a range of unique services. Create your own jewellery and accessories in store using some of the thousands of beads on offer, learn new practical skills at a class, or celebrate your next event with a private bead party function!

villagebeads.co.nz 129 Jackson St, Petone 04 566 3240 Beading sessions are suitable for people of all ages!

Function packs can be customised to best suit your group

Village Beads also specialise in making delicious homemade fudge!

Te wahi e kitea ai nga mea ataahua The place where beautiful things are to be found

Original NZ artwork. Whether as an indulgence or a gift, each piece is unique and special. Paintings to sculpture, jewellery, ceramics, art glass and more.

nzafa.com 1 Queens Wharf, Wellington 04 499 8807 Open 7 days 10am–5pm

Art lovers, become a Friend of the Academy Galleries for $50

Coffee Outdoors

An outdoors store with a boutique vibe, offering a curated selection of brands that you won’t find elsewhere in New Zealand. Coffee Outdoors exists to inspire recreation outdoors by finding adventure in everyday life.

You’ll find a selection of outdoor equipment and apparel that balances functionality, impact, value, and style to help take your inside rituals outside. Featuring exclusive international brands such as Snow Peak, Montbell, Pa’lante, Norda Run, and more.

coffeeoutdoors.co.nz 8 Marion St, Te Aro Fresh beans on-the-go!

Snow Peak Field Barista coffee mill, $180 Snow Peak titanium spork, $30

For camping, beach, sports and garden.

Helinox Chair One, $200

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1. Pa’lante V2 large bag, $500, Coffee Outdoors. 2. MAAP Alt_Road legionnaires cap, $75, Coffee Outdoors. 3. DIY bracelet kitset, $7, Village Beads. 4. Staple blanket, $89, CommonKind. 5. Cooler bag, $54.90, Città Essentials. 6.Saben Winona card holder, $99, Flo & Frankie. 7. Moana Road The Canteen drink bottle, $29.95, Te Āmiki. 8. Veja Wata II low ripstock sneaker, $225, General Store.

9. Kowtow paper shorts, $189, General Store. 10. District Vision junya racer sunglasses, $550, Coffee Outdoors. 11. Decaf blend 200g, $16.50, Kōkako Organic Coffee Roasters. 12. Bean bag, $99.90, Città Essentials.

Good Vibrations Sound Therapy Give the gift of Good Vibes this year! Pythagoras said sound is medicine. With a number of wellbeing benefits, from lowering stress to boosting immune function, it’s part of a wider trend that sees us looking to ancient practices to solve modern problems. Harness this timehonoured practice to soothe stress and find balance and bliss for the mind, body, and soul. Vouchers available. Contact for details.

goodvibrationssoundtherapy.co.nz 11/140b Jessie St, Te Aro 021 264 8544

CommonKind There’s something about finding the perfect gift that gives a little extra.

Enter CommonKind – they’re all about the warm fuzzies.

With a get one, gift one model, CommonKind gives a 100% wool blanket to a child in Aotearoa for every item sold on their website.

Peruse their colourful wool throws, snuggly baby blankets, and cosy pēpi sleeping bags online. commonkind.nz

Zebrano Zebrano is renowned for its thoughtfully curated collection of women’s fashion in sizes 14+ from top New Zealand and Australian labels. Since 1992, this proudly Kiwi-owned business has been dedicated to helping women express themselves through clothing, offering a range of unique garments, jewellery, bags, and more.

Visit one of their three Wellington stores or shop online. zebrano.co.nz 2 Tory St, Te Aro • 127 Featherston St, CBD • 4/330 High St, Lower Hutt 04 472 3533

Spring Spa Enjoy a CODAGE Paris Deep Pore Cleansing Facial by Spring Spa. Utilising the celebrity-endorsed Facify wand, our expert facialists clear impurities while CODAGE Paris serums work their magic.

Ideal for combating stress, pollution and harsh weather, this transformative facial delivers instant results, leaving your skin radiant and deeply hydrated. Treat yourself or purchase a voucher to make the perfect gift.

springspa.com 108 Tory St, Te Aro 04 801 7709

_ Te Amiki

Te Āmiki is situated on the ground floor of the National Library. Like the collections of the library, the objects in Te Āmiki all represent a place, a person, or a moment in time.

The curated collection of gifts, jewellery, books, and homeware, bring the stories of Aotearoa, your stories, and the feelings they inspire, closer to the surface.

Visit Te Āmiki and start your story today.

shop.natlib.govt.nz Corner Molesworth & Aitken St Taonga Puāwai pōhutukawa earrings XXL, $45

Te Āmiki kākāpō tote bag, $20

Saskia Hendrikse Pottery ceramic travel cups, from $40

Commonsense

Commonsense provides fresh organic food and groceries, based on environmental sustainability and fair trade – making it easy to stay true to your values during the festive season! Keep it green and choose gifts that are edible, compostable and/ or reusable to ensure you minimise your impact while still delighting your loved ones. We’ve got a wide array to choose from but if you just can’t decide, we’ve also got gift vouchers – made from paper not plastic, of course!

commonsenseorganics.co.nz 147 Tory St, Te Aro 04 384 3314 1kg jar of raw Golden Bay mānuka honey, $39.90

Create a tasty platter with organic fruit, nuts, and chocolate (each sold separately)

Commonsense gift card in pouch – you choose the value!

General Store

A trip to Martinborough just isn’t complete without a visit to the General Store.

Their beautiful new shop is open seven days, right in the heart of Martinborough, on the Square. They’re all about bringing you the best styles from their favourite brands, including Kowtow, Marle, Veja, Yu Mei, Fazeek, and Wundaire. With a strong focus on sustainability and NZ design, the General Store offers a beautifully curated collection of contemporary fashion and homeware.

pandkgeneralstore.co.nz 14 Memorial Sq, Martinborough 06 306 1502 House of Nunu belly carafe + cup set (teal), $195

Veja V-10 suede multicolour/peach sneaker, $295

Wundaire Ceramics propagate mug with glaze finish, $57

Iris Store + Studio

iris-beauty.co.nz The best in beauty right on 78a Victoria St your doorstep. Iris Store + 04 210 1619 Studio stocks a considered selection of makeup, skin care, fragrance and hair care New in! Otis Batterbee mini face brush set, from internationally renowned $75.00 brands, including Kjaer Weis, Monika Blunder Beauty, Flavedo & Albedo, Medik8 and Josh Rosebrook. Dedicated Socially conscious fragrance: Sana Jardin to expert and personalised Discovery Set, $89.00 service, Iris also offers brow tints and tweezing, lash lifts, makeup lessons and Cleanse, tone applications, and facials in and hydrate with Josh Rosebrook their beautiful, welcoming The Essentials, space on Victoria Street. $72.50

Città Essentials

Wellington welcomed its first-ever Città Essentials store earlier this year. Città Essentials is an extension of the Città brand, featuring timeless staples for everyday living. Quality and affordability meet to create thoughtful household products.

Refresh your home this summer with beautifully soft towels, organic cotton sheets, and aesthetic storage solutions. If you’re heading outdoors, embrace relaxed outdoor living with cooler bags, beach towels, and bean bags.

Discover more inspiration at Città Essentials on College Street.

cittadesign.com 11 College St, Te Aro 04 385 6398 Waffle beach towel, $59.90

Wine cooler bag, $54.90

Wide Stripe cottos towel bundle, $149

Palmers Miramar

Palmers Garden Centre in Miramar has been supplying gardening enthusiasts for nearly 30 years. The destination for home and garden inspiration, there’s always a generous helping of expert advice on hand, whether you are hunting for houseplants, planting fruit trees, starting a vegetable garden, or greening up your office spaces. The home decor section offers a thoughtfully curated range of products for your home or perhaps a beautiful gift for a friend.

palmers.co.nz 69-71 Miramar Ave, Miramar 04 388 8435 Marimekko boxed notecard collection. 10 gift cards and envelopes, $39.99

A mini Phalaenopsis orchid in a ceramic pot, $36.99

Forged steel with ash handle hand trowel, $89.99

Little garden of horoscopes Aries

Mar 21–Apr 19

Orange orchid

Gemini

May 21–Jun 21

Calathea rattlesnake

Leo

Jul 23–Aug 22

Monstera deliciosa

Aries, the fiery go-getter, pairs perfectly with the orange orchid.

Your independent nature shines, but you’ll gladly care for this proud plant pal. Orchids are ideal for nurturing Aries personalities.

Taurus

Gemini, the versatile and inquisitive sign, mirrors the calathea rattlesnake with its ever-changing, brushstroke-striped leaves. Unpredictable and full of surprises, both Gemini and this plant share a unique and captivating charm.

Cancer

Leos and monstera deliciosas both command attention effortlessly. Whether you find yourself in a stadium surrounded by enthusiastic fans or basking in the sunlight, your radiant presence and affinity for bright light make you a perfect match.

Virgo

Apr 20–May 20

Parlour palm

Jun 22–Jul 22

Red anthurium

Aug 23–Sep 22

Succulent

Taurus’s, confident and unapologetic, are a lot like the parlour palm. Both thrive with little fuss, growing steadily in their own way. The palm complements the Taureans earthy strength and forgives them even when they forget to water it.

Cancer, guided by the moon, experiences mood shifts like lunar phases. The anthurium, or flamingo plant, similarly ebbs and flows, producing blooms throughout the year. Like Cancer, it thrives with a little extra attention and care.

Virgos, the selfcontained planners, embrace alone-time and meticulous order. They find a perfect match in the echeveria, a succulent that shares their love for routine and perfection. Together, they thrive on structured harmony.

Libra

Sep 23–Oct 23

Bird’s-nest fern

Libra, guided by Venus, shares a bond with the exquisite bird’s -nest fern. They both embrace their high-maintenance nature, valuing the beauty and love they offer in return — a fair trade for the charm they bring.

Scorpio

Oct 24–Nov 22

Green philodendron

Scorpio’s transformative energy naturally attracts attention, even when they don’t seek it, thanks to their magnetic, enigmatic nature. This quality is shared with the green philodendron, making them both magnetic forces of attraction.

burstSagittarius Sagittarians, ing with boundless

the epitCapricorn Capricorns, ome of resilience,

Coffee plant

Snake plant

Nov 23–Dec 21

Aquarius Jan 20–Feb 18

Marble Queen pothos

energy, thrive without constant attention. This efficient, fast-moving sign is powered by “natural caffeine,” just like the coffee plant, infusing a natural vibrancy into any environment and setting.

Aquarius, the peppy futurist, shares a kindred spirit with the Marble Queen pothos. As future-focused individuals, they both avoid drama and prefer to envision a bright tomorrow, spreading happiness wherever they go.

Dec 22–Jan 19

Pisces

Feb 19–Mar 20

ZZ plant

thrive in minimalist conditions, embracing survival.

Much like the snake plant, they flourish when left to their own devices with minimal fuss. When given special attention, they even produce flowers.

Pisces, the natural nurturers with dreamy tendencies, can lose track of time, space, and watering schedules. For this water sign that may struggle with the mundane, the ZZ plant is a perfect match, thriving and adapting to fluctuating conditions.

Old St Paul’s An iconic venue for over 150 years, Old St Paul’s offers a unique retail experience in Wellington’s inner-city.

Year-round, a curated range showcases Aotearoa’s makers and creatives, and our seasonal Christmas store is not to be missed. From celebrating a special day to finding that unique something, it’s all here at Old St Paul’s. oldstpauls.co.nz 34 Mulgrave St, Pipitea 04 473 6722

Te Papa Store Driven by its relationship with Aotearoa New Zealand, Te Papa Store’s range takes inspiration from the national museum’s collections and exhibitions.

Their selection of taonga, books, artworks, jewellery, and homewares are carefully selected to evoke the spirit of our home. Every purchase supports Te Papa’s collection care, community outreach, and scientific research.

tepapastore.co.nz 55 Cable St, Te Aro 04 381 7013

St John’s St John’s on the waterfront is where delicious food, drinks, and good company align. Our stunning art deco building is the perfect spot to socialise while enjoying a deliciously crafted cocktail, tasty snack, or refreshing beer. When the sun’s shining, there’s comfy outdoor furniture to relax on, and plenty of live entertainment to see you through summer. stjohnsbar.co.nz 5 Cable St, Te Aro 04 974 2217

Cellar Daisy Cellar Daisy is a sweet little flower shop in the heart of the Kelburn village. Specialising in all things floral they are big fans of colour. From bouquets, events, corporate arrangements, and subscriptions for the home or loved ones, they accommodate all budgets and visions. Cellar Daisy embraces each season using locally-grown flowers from Pōneke and across Aotearoa. cellardaisy.co.nz 2/92 Upland Rd, Kelburn 021 0890 3073

_ Kokako Organic Coffee Roasters

Kōkako Organic Coffee Roasters have been leading the charge in sustainability since their inception in 2001. Certified organic, Fairtrade and climate neutral – with home compostable packaging to boot – their specialty coffee tastes as good as it feels.

Self-proclaimed “bird people”, the roasters are longtime supporters of North Island Kōkako recovery efforts, actively campaigning for this year’s highly contested Bird of the Century. Check out their online store to find gifts for coffee lovers and bird lovers alike.

kokako.co.nz 09 379 2868 Bird Watching Arcoroc mug with illustrations

by Loryn Engelsman, $18

Single origin taster pack, $52.50

MiiR Pourigami™, the most compact, portable dripper there is, $66.50

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1. Kip&Co velvet petal cushion, $85, General Store. 2. Chocolate orange body scrub, $29.99, Coco Beau. 3. Piece House 1000 piece puzzle by Allan Wrath, $49.90, Flo & Frankie. 4. Kjaer Weis lipgloss, $52, Iris Store + Studio. 5.

Father Rabbit tea towel, $27, General Store. 6. Sunday nail polish, $28, Cellar Daisy. 7. Montbell thermo mug, $35, Coffee Outdoors. 8. Gummy bear earrings, $12, Village Beads. 9. Strawberries, Commonsense. 10. Moroccan basket with long leather handles, $59.90, Città Essentials. 11. Pa’lante wide water bottle, $40, Coffee Outdoors. 12. Lemon Tree Sylvia dress, $199, Zebrano.

Rosey pavlovas Steal the show with these little pink beauties. Ideal for rounding off a delicious meal or as light, sweet picnic treat. If there’s one thing Kate Marinkovich knows it’s making pretty food. Each day fluffy, floral cakes and glistening glazed donuts delight customers at her Mount Victoria café Tomboy. Completely self-taught, Kate inherited her flair for food from her family, who regularly lend a hand in the café she opened seven years ago.

Recipe courtesy of Kate Marinkovich. For more Christmas recipes, visit capitalmag.co.nz

Pavs 200g egg whites 400g caster sugar 1 tsp cream of tartar 1 tsp cornflour 2 tsp vinegar vanilla essence 1 tbsp rosewater

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Custard Cream 2 cups cream 1 tub store-bought custard 2 tbsp icing sugar vanilla essence pink colouring To serve Tomboy passionfruit curd blackberries

Preheat oven to 110°C on bake.

For the pavlovas, in a mixer add the egg whites and sugar together. Beat on high until it’s super fluffy, puffy and delicious. There shouldn’t be any sugar granules in the mix. Add the cream of tartar, cornflour, vinegar, vanilla, and rosewater. Whip to combine. Add in a tiny drop of colouring to make the mix pink.

Once everything is incorporated, put your mixture into a large piping bag (they sell a box of piping bags at Moore Wilson’s and I swear I pat myself on the back at home when I have them because they make life so much easier).

Pipe onto a tray lined with baking paper. You can be creative about how they look – aim for height rather than width as they will spread a little.

Place in the oven and reduce the temperature to 90°C. Leave them in there for 2 to 3 hours. Check. Lift the bottom: if they have a little colour, the edges are smooth, and they are easy to lift off, they are finished. Turn the oven off, and leave them in the oven with the door slightly ajar. Let them cool completely.

To make the custard cream, over-whip your cream. To the point it’s gone from luscious to lumpy. Stop there. If it’s grainy, you’ve gone too far. Add your custard, sugar and vanilla. Whip into the mix and continue to whip until it starts to thicken. Add a drop of pink if you want. Put into a piping bag.

To serve, place your pavlova on a plate, cut a little hole out of the top, and fill with Tomboy passionfruit curd.

Dust with a little icing sugar. Pipe on the custard cream and top with blackberries.

Coco Beau

Coco Beau revolutionised the skincare game when they unlocked the skin saving potential of everyone’s favourite superfood – chocolate!

Developed by a multi awardwinning food technologist, Coco Beau sustainably transforms natural by-products of the chocolate making process into skincare goodies that your body will love. With a portion of sales donated to re-planting native trees; their cheeky body scrubs are our firm favourites for your stocking filler thriller — at any time of year!

cocobeau.co.nz Created with natural superfood ingredients your skin will love

Shower: On. Clothes: Off. double chocolate body scrub, $29.99

Scrubbing you to your booty goals, naturally

2023 Gift it or keep it, the Slurp 2.0 goodie box features a limited edition hand-crafted Bryony Puketapu mug and a big bag of Good Fortune Coffee Co plunger/filter grind – it’s a labour of local love.

Purchase your box from capitalmag.co.nz/shop

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Fernweh Give the caffeine fiend in your life what they really want – coffee delivered straight to their door, with a Fernweh coffee subscription. Each month we feature a new coffee roast, partnering with excellent roasters from across Aotearoa. Get a three or six month single origin coffee subscription for the gift that keeps on giving.

fernweh.nz

Small Acorns Small Acorns is a beautiful lifestyle and interior store, which is home to some of the most lusted after, desirable homeware brands from New Zealand and around the globe. A store full of personal treasures, beautiful bed linen, cushions, fabrics, thoughtful gifts, vintage and contemporary design, infused with colour and a touch of eclectic whimsy.

smallacorns.co.nz 2 Blair St 04 802 5795

Style on Jackson With a long history of specialising in designer preloved, Style on Jackson is a must visit when in Petone. Through careful curation and quality control, we empower our customers to make sustainable choices without compromising on style or individual expression. We’re proud to provide a warm and inviting environment, connecting with shoppers, and sharing in their passion for conscious fashion. styleonjackson.co.nz 220 Jackson St, Petone 04 568 8255

Flo & Frankie Flo & Frankie is your go-to fashion and gifting destination.

As a multi-brand boutique, they offer a curated collection of everyday wear, event attire, work essentials, chic accessories, and thoughtful homeware and gifts.

Each piece embodies their dedication to unparalleled style, quality and a deep-rooted commitment to ethical, sustainable and give-back initiatives. Shop effortlessly for yourself and your loved ones.

floandfrankie.com 364 Lambton Quay 04 471 2156

Get the bigger picture with a subscription An annual subscription to NZ’s art and design guide is only $54.

artzone.co.nz/shop

Gift the stories of Wellington with a subscription this festive season.

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