New Year Quiz 2011

We hope you enjoyed Christmas whether there was snow or sun. To get 2011 under way we thought we would set a bit of a quiz. Good for a party and some good discussion. No apologies for a few of the questions being kiwi-orientated, anything to help kiwis get ahead.......



Kiwigiftsonline New Year quiz 2011.



Best wishes for a peaceful and prosperous year ahead.

Christmas is coming

Gifts, entertaining, family, friends, a bit of a holiday. It is time for fun.



But first there is the organisation. Gifts? The last of our new Christmas stock is on the website including some of the really popular and topical food books. Annabel Langbein 'The Free Range Cookbook', Jo Seagar's latest book 'It's Easier Than You Think', Al Brown's award winning 'Go Fish' and even Alison and Simon Holst's classic for parents of young children 'Baby Food and Beyond'. Does this solve some gift problems for you?



Postage within New Zealand is free, so you can order up, they come individually wrapped ready to give away on the day.



"Do give books - religious or otherwise - for Christmas. They are never fattening, seldom sinful, and permanently personal" - Leonore Hershey

The best skin cleanser

There was a review of skin cleansers in NZ Herald yesterday. This skin cleanser is just as good, and most think its better as it has won an award. It is also half the price of most of those reviewed. It is hard to get sometimes, but we have it in stock - and postage within New Zealand is free.

Manuka Honey

Manuka Honey is one of the items we have been trying to source for some time. We now have delicious eating manuka honey, and the more expensive but unique medicinal manuka honey. Perfect for sending overseas for Christmas - except to Western Australia as they dont allow it in.

New Zealand is now renowned for this honey and its healing properties, although for the last century the farmers have called it 'scrub' and cut it, burnt it, cleared it and tried their best to get rid of it. Fortunately it regenerates easily and they failed to get rid of it all.

Also added to the website are really tasty chocolate logs. Made by Wickely Gourmet, which sums them up nicely. Not expensive but very good.

Its time to start thinking about sending presents overseas for Christmas. The closing dates for posting are on the website. If you cant find what you want on the website, let us know and we can try and find it for you. But please dont leave it until the last moment. Order and if it is for Christmas we can hold and post it on the closing day so that it doesnt arrive too early.

Not just made in New Zealand

"Not just made in New Zealand but a reminder of New Zealand. For a friend who is going to live overseas. Oh, and not expensive"

This request prompted us to add a few items to the website, including these attractive tea towels. They have a coordinating apron too.

Quite a lot of items have been added over the past weeks, including Queen Anne Dark Originals, all with soft centres, as an alternative to the Queen Anne Originals. More to come by mid-November

"Giving opens the way to receiving" Frances Stovel Shinn

Spirits Bay

Among the wonderful Spring photos we were sent after the last email, is this one now on our website. It is of Spirits Bay in the Far North of New Zealand. One of the many magnificent beaches, but one which is very topical as it was the bay in which 40 whales stranded themselves a few days ago.

The bay has a very steep beach which even makes swimming dangerous. In addition there was a 2 metre swell coming off the beach when the whales stranded. So refloating the whales there was impossible. Instead the Department of Conservation workers and local helpers loaded 24 whales on to trucks and transported them 50 kilometres to Rarawa Beach - no mean feat. 3 whales died en route and a further 7 re-stranded themselves but 14 of the huge, magnificent creatures were refloated and swam away.

Today the DoC workers (one of whom sent this photo) and the locals were still burying the whales which had died or had to be euthanased and were checking the area by boat and plane to make sure the pod of 14 hadn't restranded. So far so good.....

Spring photo wanted

It is meant to be Spring in New Zealand. Even if parts of Christchurch have been shaken to bits, we arent too warm, rain is forecast all week, there is heavy snow in the South, and the wind is blowing a gale.

So help cheer us all up. We need a good 'Spring' photo on the front cover of http://www.kiwigiftsonline.co.nz for the next few weeks.

If you have a good photo and are happy for us to 'borrow' it, send it and if we use it you will receive a voucher to use on kiwigiftsonline.co.nz. Either save the voucher to use on Christmas presents, or lash our on something for yourself. Lambs, blossom, flowers... come on, inspire us.

If there is an identifiable person in the photo, please give us a name and make sure they are happy to be on the website. Please email the photo, in as high a resolution as possible but in not too big a size.

Go for it......

Kind regards
Dione

Christchurch - we are thinking of you

Those at Kiwigiftsonline, like so many New Zealanders, have lots of friends and suppliers in the South Island and Christchurch. The devastation there after the huge earthquake on Saturday morning is enormous. Thank goodness no one was killed. When you see the damage to buildings, this really was a miracle.

After the initial cleanup and a great job by the Civil Defence, I am sure there are many who will be wondering how to deal with the material damage. We offer our sympathy to all those there who had such a terrifying ordeal.

We are thinking of you.

Good books for overseas friends

Kiwigiftsonline has just added two really good 'gift' books. They sound similar but they arent really.

'Dust to Gold' is the story of Bendigo Station and Shrek, the woolly merino sheep who is known throughout the world. Shrek himself is quite a character and the story of the huge country station on which he lives is equally fascinating - a site of the largest quartz gold find in New Zealand, to rocks and rabbits, and then to fine merino wool and wine. Told by John Perriam, the owner of Bendigo - and Shrek's manager. More details here

The other book is 'The Road to Castle Hill' and the story of Christine Fernyhough, who after losing her husband, a wealthy Auckland businessman, decided to buy a South Island high country farm. From social and charity work, she turns to sheep, tractors, fencing and weather she had never imagined. Her deterimination and humour turns the book into an inspiring story. More details here.

Both book are ideal gifts for overseas friends in particular. Both have great photography of some of the most picturesque and awe-inspiring country in New Zealand

What gifts do people search for most online?

Are people looking for ideas or a specific gift? Let us know - and remember, gifts for yourself still count.



John Lewis is a large London department store, and in a recent newsletter they listed what people search for most. I can hardly believe that sofas or an armchairs are in the top three, cushions more likely and handbags yes.



I suspect that many searches are not for 'aim-to-buy-online' as I for one spend a lot of time looking without any intention of buying. Retail therapy without the 'Can I help you?' from the pushy sales lady. Good fun.



Let us know what you have looked for in, say, the last month whether or not it is made in New Zealand.

New products added

Lots of new products on the website recently.

The New Zealand luxurious olive range of Tebe skincare is very popular luxurious skincare. It is made just south of Auckland on the olive plantation itself. We have included the Tebe moisturising shower gel, the flowing soap handwash and a really great gift for travellers, the Tebe Boarding pack. This has shower gel, moisturising milk, shampoo, conditioner and soap all within the hand luggage limit.

Now my mother-in-law, Les, was the first person I knew who raved on about Queen Anne chocolates. Very popular in the 1950s and 1960s - but then they stopped making them. They were made by Ernest Adams and now the granddaughter of Earnest Adams is making them again. They are made to the original recipes - and are just as good as Les promised. Read the story.

Last, but not lease, is the Topp Twins - well actually their new CD. In New Zealand we know them as those crazy tinws on the telly, but in fact they are world renowned country singers and their latest CD is tipped to be NZ Album of the Year. Entertaining music - Honky Tonk Angels.

Meanwhile the All Whites covered themselves in glory at the FIFA World Cup finals - they didnt make it to the knockouts but didnt lose a game.

The New Zealand Polo team has assembled in England and training up to play England for the Coronation Cup at the end of the month.

And for those in New Zealand, be thankful that the weather gurus say it is going to remain a mild winter.

"One kind word can warm three winter months" - Japanese proverb

Dione
http://kiwigiftsonline.co.nz/

Footy time

It's a round ball not an oval one, New Zealand's team is the All Whites not the All Blacks, but New Zealand is still feverish over footy. New Zealand was ranked 78th in the world but still got to the FIFA World Cup. Having never scored a point in the Football Finals, a 1-1 draw against Slovakia in the first game was just fine. there are probably a few harder games ahead, but who knows....?



Kiwigiftsonline is perfect for travellers. Often kiwis want to give their hosts something from New Zealand but find they didnt take anything with them. Just log into kiwigiftsonline from anywhere is the world and the gift will be on the way. No extra weight, no unsuitable presents cluttering the suitcase.



Tui Bee Balme is well known, a honey based ointment which is great for minor cuts or nappy rash. We have now added Tui Bug Balme to kiwigiftsonline. This is also made from natural ingredients and suitable for children. Highly recommended. Keep those sandflies and mozzies at bay.



Meanwhile - GO THE ALL WHITES

Sock it

Normally socks are not something to get excited about, but we have just added some Merino and Possum Merino socks to the website. Requested by an American friend - "How can you have a website without them?"


The Merino socks are hunting, fishing, tramping socks, reinforced and really warm. The Possum Merino are casual dress socks, unbelievably soft, light and warm. If you havent worn merino or possum merino before - where have you been?

http://www.kiwigiftsonline.co.nz/shop/GIFTS+BY+PRODUCT+TYPE/Jewellery+and+clothing/Merino+Socks+-+the+All+Rounder.html

This article was published in NZ Herald. Skinfood is a really good, all natural, inexpensive and of course we have it on the website. Their Skinfood cleanser has won awards and the Rotorua Mud Masque is fun to give as a gift. Buy some to give use or give away - and dont forget delivery within New Zealand is free.
Article on Skinfood

First things first for kiwigiftsonline

This is the first blog for Kiwigiftsonline.

More will follow shortly, giving some up to date news on products, ideas for products and hopefully some entertaining comments