I adore 101 Howick, and perhaps my one regret in life is that I left it too late to snap up one of…read morethe incredibly stylish and New-York-loft-esque stools that were basically one huge thread with a seat on top, and you could hand-screw to adjust in height. Okay maybe that's not the best description... Point being, they have tasteful, unusual, and beautiful homeware and gifts. There's a little bit of everything really, and if you like Redcurrent, you'll love 101 Howick. It's like Redcurrent with more cushions, and fewer candles. With more stylish pieces of occasional furniture, and fewer Olga Berg bags (not that I'm knocking them). Visit for a present you'd never have dreamed of, or a decent spoil for yourself.

High Tide is the kind of gift shop that once you know about it, you'll go back to shop for…read moreyourself. So it's type of gift store that has things you'd actually want to receive yourself, rather than just the okay but slightly pointless stuff you sometimes find in other gift shops. It has a New Zealandy theme without being tacky (think teatowels with the Four Square man and lovely handcreams featuring local ingredients and scents). Everytime I go here the stock seems to have been updated, which must be trickly in a little suburban shop, but is so necessary to keep customers' interest. It also has a bit of a beachy theme going on, which is all sort of fresh, white and blue striped, and relevant to the area too (the beach is just down the road). Best of all, the prices are genuinely reasonable for the quality of the products, and the service is brilliant - very relaxed and chatty.

It's a painfully small and quiet shop, and it has much the same variety as all the other bargain…read morestores scattered around Auckland. I gave 1,2,3 Plus 3 stars though for the exceptionally friendly owner. A sweet Chinese man with a big grin, he has more than the typical 'Hi' & 'Thank you' to offer you. He goes out of his way to wish you a 'Happy Easter' and plays some great tunes, such as the 'Phantom of the Opera' suite. I was immediately warmed by his big heart and wanted to stay a bit longer. I'm not a huge fan of discount stores, but I'm usually dragged in by my bargain hunting mother. At least I wanted to stay in this one for a while, and sing along to 'All I Ask of You'.

I always find something in Acquisitions that surprises me. Just when I think novelty gifts couldn't…read moreget any quirkier, they surpass my expectations. Acquisitions is filled with anything and everything, so if you haven't got time for a good browse, the staff are always happy to point you in the right direction. I particularly like their range of greeting cards. The pop-up ones here are awesome and they're great for something a little different and fun when giving a gift to someone. The last time I was there, I saw a great artwork of the American flag and writing this really makes me wish I'd bought it now! They do a lot of Kiwiana stuff too, so its great if you're looking for a little piece of New Zealand. I always come back to Acquisitions for small gifts, because the service is exceptional. One guy I remember was super nice, not pushy at all and knew the products inside out. My partner and I had a great conversation with him and he helped us find what we were looking for. A grade service! I only wish this place was a little more central in the mall, so more people would get a look in. Its great for a nosy and you never know when you'll be heading back there for those champagne flutes, that cute key ring or last-minute stag party supplies.

This is pretty much the perfect place to buy a gift for your mum or grandma. They have lots of…read morelittle trinkets and ornaments and that kind of thing, perfect for a Christmas present or mother's day. This is also a cool place if you want to buy some unique souvenirs, not the usual boring kiwi souvenirs that you find in every generic souvenir shop, here they have some cool handcrafted Kiwiana. I think that is the coolest thing about this store, but they also have plenty of other things for sale like home ware and cooking utensils. You know, all that stuff that your nana would love. For guys, it's one of those shops that you kind of want to just get in, buy a gift, and get out, and the layout of this store makes it pretty easy to do just that.

I love Love Cast. Geddit? Well, that's okay, it wasn't really a joke was it…read more This isn't the kind of shop that you'd come to for one thing in particular, it's much more a browser (nothing to do with computers). It's definitely a girly-girl, nana-ish type of place, and as all of the stock is Asian, may I say Asian-y? The best things are these little microwaveable porcelain bowls that come with plastic lids, so that you can store leftovers classily in your fridge and then reheat them easily. So now you know that you have to appreciate the dinky to really like Love Cast. No wait, the best things are these plastic spoons. I'm not sure I can give them full credit here though. They come in lots of different sizes (from eating to serving) and colours, and are I think made of melamine. I have quite a collection and find them superior for desserts and cereal consumption when the thought of the cold metal of an ordinary spoon is deeply offensive to one's sense of culinary aesthetics. And perhaps they're so appealing because we all ate off them as babies. Also, they have slippers (in the manner of thin-soled things to offer to guests), some pretty quilts down the back of the shop, and some extraordinarily kitsch clocks. There's also jewellery and other bits and pieces.

The St Heliers Mall is easy to miss if you're not on the lookout for it. Tucked away off the main…read morestreet, it's an interesting mix of independent retailers including women's and children's clothes, a nail bar, cafes, an excellent kitchenware/gift shop, and a good second hand clothing shop. The two shops that face the street are Bagatelle, which has an interesting range of bags (including Olga Berg that I'm a huge fan of), with some quite quirky jewellery scattered among them. The other street-facing shop is Chances which is a long-established kiwi surf and street wear company - just the place to duck into if you've forgotten to bring your togs for a day at the beach. My other recommended shops down in The Mall are Déjà vu (mid-range secondhand clothing), and The Gift Studio ('nuf said). Check out my St Heliers list for all tasty places to visit in the area.

New mothers take note! Nature Baby is your one stop shop for all your baby needs!…read more Bodysuits, clothing, shoes, bibs, bottles, prams, highchairs - Nature Baby is an independently owned business and stocks it all. Specialising in organic products, Nature Baby offers a fabulous eco-friendly alternative. Though there are a couple of stores around Auckland, the Grey Lynn store is their flagship and I've found has the friendliest most helpful staff. I'm not sure about you, but I've often found it hard to find that special gift that is a bit different for baby showers, but Nature Baby can more than accommodate anyone with this problem. Their merino range in particular is brilliant for those cold winter months, and it can be hard to find such good quality, warm clothing for babies elsewhere. Tip: If you're ever in Grey Lynn and looking for baby shower gifts or necessities for your littlies, pop in to Nature Baby and ask for Geraldine - she will make sure you leave with everything you need!

Venturing across the great divide that is the Auckland Bridge, is not something that I do on a…read moreregular basis. Not because I don't like the city or central suburbs, because I do, but due to my hectic work schedule and parenting responsibilities. With the birth of my beautiful baby boy, I was presented with a sweet $100 gift voucher at Nature Baby, and I listed all the wonderful things I could buy there. Unfortunately upon arrival I soon realized that the only thing you can buy at the store for a hundred bucks is a $100 gift voucher. Okay, I'm exaggerating, but they are steep in their pricing, and that includes the general baby goods on sale. The unique offerings were justified in their elevated pricing, because some items were just too gorgeous for words, hence me spending another hundred or so in the store. I can recommend this store for people wanting to buy that special item for a new baby or grandchild, your gift will set you apart from the others at the baby shower.