New Zealand's wines make easy gifts to take home. While a relatively new wine region (the first vineyard was planted in 1977), Canterbury is becoming well known and appreciated for its Chardonnay, Riesling and Pinot Noir wines. Try the City Winery & Cheese Factory, 28 Mollett Street, which has a good selection of regional products.

Sheepskins, woollen and leather goods are also good options for souvenirs and gifts: try The Sheepskin & Footwear Factory Shop, 95 Worcester Street. Ballantyne, on City Mall, is New Zealand's longest established department store. It has been operating with distinctive style for over 100 years.

A good bookshop to check out is Smith's Bookshop, 133 Manchester Street, which has a room dedicated to books on New Zealand, including Maori culture and art, and poetry and fiction by New Zealand authors.

Maori traditional crafts and items made from pounamu (greenstone) are another popular choice. You will find many shops in town that sell them. Or head for the Arts Centre of Christchurch on Worcester Boulevard (a short stroll from Cathedral Square), home to dozens of speciality shops and craft studios selling all sorts of little treasures, from bone and jade jewellery to local crafts and toys and woollens, to mention but a few.

Every Saturday and Sunday, from 1000 to 1600, the Arts Centre hosts an arts, crafts and produce market and food fair. There's something for every taste with over 80 stallholders offering top quality local arts and crafts, fresh produce an array of global cuisine.

Shops in Christchurch are usually open on Monday to Friday 0900-1730, Saturday 0900-1630 and Sunday 1000-1400.

Sales tax is 12.5%. Provided receipts are kept, visitors can claim a tax refund at the airport or through the local New Zealand embassy upon return.