Shopping in Christchurch

susanlin · Posted: Mon Mar 15, 2004 10:42 am Post subject: Shopping in Christchurch

Hi - sounds really trivial I know in the grand scheme of things, but what are the shops like in Christchurch? I am moving in 2 weeks and am wondering about stocking up on stuff before I go in case I can't get things out there. Is there an equivalent M & S or Boots in NZ? What about department stores, kids clothing shops etc? What about hairdressers, beauty salons etc - important stuff you know!

veronica · Posted: Mon Mar 15, 2004 3:56 pm Post subject:

You can buy pretty much all of lifes essentials and luxuries without having the same brandnames and shopfronts. You have to let go of the old and embrace the new. They have shopping malls, and if shopping is your lifes mission try heading north a few kilometres out of the city and visit the palms.
Part of the adventure is that things are different and its not UK located in the southern hemisphere. Having said that if you're a Marmite freak like my son in law it would be worth stocking up on a few jars as you can't get it there, and vegemite isn't the same. (If you stand near the "to declare" lane in customs half the people are there checking its ok to take in Marmite.) Steve and my daughter are based in Auckland and Steves view is that shopping must be a national sport because there are so many malls. hope that reassures you, Veronica

Tanya · Posted: Mon Mar 15, 2004 10:52 pm Post subject:

We went home to NZ at Christmas and we did find real Marmite over there in the supermarkets!!
NZ Marmite made by Sanitarium tastes nothing like English Marmite so you have been warned!!!
One thing we didn't see a lot of was decaffeinated tea/teabags so when we head out next year I shall be stocking up! You can get them but at health shops with a rather dear price tag!
They don't seem to be big on things like Ready Brek - didn't find any equivilent when we looked.

Hope this helps.

Lauren · Posted: Tue Mar 16, 2004 6:49 am Post subject: shopping

Hi,

So glad its not just me thinking about these things.

Food shopping was something I was concerned about. Check out www.woolworths.co.nz you can browse the store without registering and check if they sell particular brands/products you like. (Already had to do this for Branston Pickle and yes they do sell it!)

Haven't been to NZ so can't help except pass on sites I've found for clothes shops/malls. Found these sites so far-

www.westfield.com/riccarton
www.dress-smart.co.nz/christchurch
www.merivalemall.co.nz
www.northlands.co.nz
www.thewarehouse.co.nz

They all give store listings so you can see what's there.

You are arriving in CHC about 3 weeks before us so please keep posting.

Good Luck.

L.

Know we are all moving to NZ for better life but new shoes are important too!

susanlin · Posted: Tue Mar 16, 2004 10:51 am Post subject:

Hi everyone -many thanks for your replies. Lauren, thanks for the websites - I will check them out.

I will really miss the shops in the UK - it is the only thing I will miss about Britain apart from family and friends. As long as I can get the basic essentials like decent fashionable clothes, shoes !!, kids clothes and toiletries then I'll be happy! Funnily enough, not bothered about the essential things - like food! I did try vegemite last year and loved it - brought loads back to UK! I will miss all the vegetarian food you can get here though.

I will certainly keep you posted on how I get on in ChCh - 13 days to go - major panic - so much to do and just not enough hours in the day! The best therapy I know for stress is shopping so think I'd better get on with it....

Robert · Posted: Tue Mar 16, 2004 7:09 pm Post subject:

Hi

Shopping at the beginning can be really tough. The cheapest prices for food are at PaknSave. The other supermarkets, Woolworths, New World and Countdown etc, might be nicer experiences but the PaknSave slogan is - the cheapest food prices in New Zealand. I do not think that living in New Zealand is as cheap as it is sometimes made out to be.

We really missed shops like Argos when getting set up. We spent a lot of money at The Warehouse which has cheap and cheerful stuff for every occasion but very good for a tight budget. Farmers is the rough equivalent of Debenhams, while Ballantynes in the centre of Christchurch is there for the 'posh shop', sort of House of Fraser. Bristoes for bedding and towels etc but only buy their sale items (there is always a sale starting or finishing, an audit report said that their ordinary prices were more expensive than comparable shops but their sale prices were good value)

I really miss Next (esp the Next Directory) and shopping at Tesco - buying childrens clothing along with the cornflakes. But as has already been said, you have to search out new shops.

Sharon