Got someone special overseas? Here are New Zealand gifts that post beautifully.
If you've got family or friends living overseas, you'll know they miss the little things. The bush. The beach. Birdsong in the morning, and pōhutukawa in full flower.
I've posted plenty of my art to Kiwis abroad over the years, and it's often the gift that means the most. Something from home they can hang on the wall and look at every single day.
So here are my picks for New Zealand gifts to send overseas, the ones that travel well and really mean something when they land.
Small art prints: a piece of Aotearoa in an envelope
Small NZ art prints are my number one gift to send overseas. They're light, they post flat, and they fit just about anywhere. A shelf, a desk, a bedside table, or grouped with favourite keepsakes on a dresser.
My square 210 x 210mm prints have always been the most popular size for gifting, and A5 and A4 work beautifully too. Every print is made to order here in NZ with archival inks on a lovely smooth matte paper, so it'll last for years.
A few that Kiwis abroad love:
Fantail's Lace Two. The cheeky little pīwakawaka that follows you on every bush walk. One of my best sellers.
Kiwi's Lace Two. Our kiwi tucked in amongst ferns, pōhutukawa and kōwhai. A proud little piece of home for anyone who's ever heard one calling in the bush at night.
Sandy Bay. Pōhutukawa, shells and driftwood from a Coromandel beach. Summer at the bach in one picture.
Crowned Dahlia. The iconic Crown Lynn swan vase, for anyone who grew up with one at Nan's place.
Why overseas prints are posted unframed
I only post framed prints within NZ. The glass in a frame would more than likely break on the journey, so overseas orders go unframed. Most sizes are posted flat, and the biggest ones, A1 and 594 x 594mm, come rolled in a tube. If you'd love to give a framed one, you can always take it with you in your carry-on (more on that below). Bonus: they get to choose a frame that suits their home.
Not sure which size to pick? My guide to choosing the right size art print has a size chart to help.
Crown Lynn inspired art print greeting cards: a little hug in the post
Sometimes you just want to send a card that says “thinking of you” and really means it. My Crown Lynn inspired greeting cards come in a pack of four, two Crowned Dahlia and two Crowned Pōhutukawa, each with the iconic white swan vase that so many of us grew up with at Nan’s place.
They’re blank inside, so there’s room for a proper catch-up, and they’re light enough to post anywhere. Order a pack for yourself and send them one at a time, or have a pack posted straight to someone overseas. Postage is free within NZ, and it’s just NZ$7 to Australia or NZ$9 to the rest of the world.
Art print tea towels: light, flat and easy to post
My art print tea towels fold flat and weigh next to nothing, which makes them easy to send. They're decorative art for the kitchen, printed to order here in NZ and posted worldwide. Hang one up to brighten the room, use it to cover your baking, or wrap a small box of Kiwi treats or chocolate from home in it for a gift within a gift.
Wall decals: a little extra something
Want to add a bit more to the parcel? My native bird wall decals, made with Sticky Ticky, are another easy one. Fantail's Lace, Kiwi's Lace and Homegrown Lace (a tūī among ferns) go up on pretty much any smooth wall and peel off again, so they're great for renters or a kid's room. They stick to laptops and drink bottles too, so a little tūī or fantail can travel everywhere with them. Sticky Ticky post them airmail worldwide from Christchurch.
Shopping in person before you post? Sticky Ticky has stockists around the country, and some may have my decals on the shelf. If you're after a particular one, give the shop a quick call or message first to check they've got it in stock.
Art tote bags and cushion covers: pack a little piece of home
I’ve added a small run of art tote bags and cotton cushion covers to my shop, with artwork like Crowned Dahlia, Lucy’s Blooms and Flourishing Grace. They’re made to be used every day, and that’s what makes them such a lovely gift for someone far from home. A tote that comes to the market or the beach with them, or a cushion on their couch, is a little bit of New Zealand they’ll reach for all the time.
These ones are posted by me within NZ only, so they’re perfect to send to yourself first or pack in your suitcase. A tote folds flat and weighs next to nothing, and a cushion cover packs down even smaller (the inner isn’t included, so they just pop one in when it arrives). There are only one or two of each, so if one feels like them, grab it before it’s gone.
Three easy ways to get it to them
Send it straight to them. Art print tea towels post direct from my printer in the Bay of Plenty, and unframed prints come from my amazing printing company in Ponsonby, Auckland.
Send it to yourself first. Lots of my customers have it delivered to their own door, then pop it in one parcel with the rest of the gifts they're sending overseas. This is the way to go for my tote bags and cushion covers too, since I post those within NZ only.
Pack it in your suitcase. Heading overseas to visit? Order two or three weeks before you fly so it arrives in time. An A4 print is small and light, and a tea towel or tote bag folds up to almost nothing, so none of them take up much room or weight in your bag. One of my customers even packed a framed 210 × 210mm print in her suitcase, so that's the way to give a framed one. Pop it in your carry-on, so you can look after it and make sure it arrives in one piece.
Flying out tomorrow? Every piece is printed to order, so I can't get something to you overnight, and it breaks my heart when I have to say so. If you're around Hobsonville, Auckland, flick me a message and I'll see what I've got on hand for you to pick up. Otherwise, you can still order and have it sent straight to their overseas address, so it reaches them anyway. The stress-free way is to order two to three weeks before you fly, and then it's all sorted.
A gift that keeps saying home
For Kiwis living overseas, a little piece of Aotearoa on their wall does more than look pretty. Every time they walk past it, they're reminded of home, their roots and where they came from. And they're reminded of you, the friend or family member who thought of them.
A couple of posting tips
Give yourself time. Prints are made to order and international post can take a while, so order early if you've got a birthday or special day in mind.
Travelling yourself? Order two to three weeks before you fly, so it’s at your door in time to pack. If you’re anything like me, the lead-up to a big trip is a mission, especially if you’re juggling work or kids. So be kind to yourself and tick this off early. Your future self will thank you the day before you leave.
Send a little piece of home
A piece of NZ art is a lovely way to say "we miss you" without saying a word. Have a browse of my art prints and gifts and homeware, and find the one that feels like home to them. find the one that feels like home to them.
Who are you sending a little piece of home to this year?
Thanks for reading, and for sending a little piece of home to someone you love.
Anna Mollekin · NZ artist