Ideas on how to support local businesses this Christmas.

Interest rates are going up and the R word (recession) keeps popping up in conversation. It’s more important now than ever to support Kiwi businesses.

Naturally, we are hoping you will be giving the gift of Te Atatu Toasted to your friends and family this year. Our mueslis make a great base for a festive breakfast cereal that would be a perfect present.

But if you need a bit more variety in your gift giving, here are just a few of the local businesses we love that would be very grateful for your support this year.

Give for the garden
Kiwis love their outdoor spaces so why not buy gifts that can be used in the garden? We are big fans of metalbird.co.nz – it started out as a street art project in 2009 when Phil Walters created and installed metal bird silhouettes around his neighborhood, just for fun. Now Metalbird has become a sprawling global project that will transform your backyard, garden or environment into a work of art. Not only that, Metalbird supports bird conservation efforts worldwide. Pick your favourite winged creature.

Crafty Gatherer offers NZ-made tools and accessories for the garden – grab one of their wooden seed trays and full it with a variety of summer vegetables for a gift that grows. Or a recycled wood garden dibber makes transplanting seedlings, planting bulbs and sowing seeds easy. Or splash out on a linen harvesting apron so your green-fingered friend can collect the fruits of their labour.

For the art lovers
Local Te Atatu artist Fiona Clarke specilaises in specialises in native New Zealand birds in watercolour and ink. She has beautiful prints and calendars available as well as mugs, you can visit her website here.

For the little ones

If you are shopping for the little people in your life, you can’t go past Squoodles. Husband and wife team Dean and Tracy Morgan saw a gap in the market for reasonably priced, but  high quality educational wooden toys and created this online business in 2013. Their range has expanded and now they have something for all ages and all budgets. Browse the online catalogue to check out books, puzzles, games, craft ideas and toys for the bath, the garden, the kitchen and everywhere in between. www.squoodles.co.nz

Love your skin

Agnes & Me offers beautiful, natural New Zealand products made in small batches using plant-based ingredients, which are organic and Fairtrade where possible. The essential oils smell lovely but they also serve a purpose: to lift the mood and emotions and work with the body to nourish, replenish, regenerate, soften and smooth the skin. There are a range of skincare products for your face and body, including lip balm, beauty balm, face and body oil, body cream and a clay face mask. www.agnesandme.co.nz

Master the mess

Cleaning products might not be everyone’s first choice as a Christmas gift but we promise these gorgeous dishcloths will make housework better. Ecovask founder Viv Kohlenbach-Wilson discovered the cloths when visiting her husband’s family in Europe and loved them so much, she decided to bring them into New Zealand to sell. They come in fabulous colours, are generously sized and they are made from 100 per cent Eco-Tex certified cotton, which essentially means the cotton growing and production process is more environmentally friendly and they are free from a myriad of chemicals often used in manufacturing processes. And because you wash and reuse them, you are not throwing more synthetic cloths into our landfills. You can also get hand towels and tea towels from the website. www.ecovask.co.nz

Another great gift for the eco-warriors in your life is a set of low-waste cleaning products from local company Cleanery. Set up by Te Atatu Toasted fan Ellie Brade and her husband, this business sells cleaning product sachets that come as a powder that dissolves in water at home to create an ultra-effective cleaning spray. Wave goodbye to single-use plastic bottles and say hello to going greener. They have a multi-purpose cleaner, a bathroom cleaner and a kitchen cleaner plus a new personal care handwash range. Check out their Christmas gift boxes at www.cleanery.co.nz

Edible made easy

If you are out of time to make lovely edible gifts using Te Atatu Toasted mueslis, check out these New Zealand food producers who have done all the hard work for you.

For the health food lovers in your life visit Wholo Foods. These mouth-watering, natural foods and snacks are designed to boost your health and wellbeing and they even have some special treats for Christmas. www.wholofoods.co.nz

Or check out the curry sauces, chutneys, pickles, teas and snacks from Banu’s, another business born in Te Atatu. They have beautiful gift boxes for Christmas and you can even buy an Indian cooking class for the spice lover in your life. www.banus.co.nz

You can support several local food businesses at Foraged and Curated – they have a range of gift boxes containing food and other items that have been handmade or produced by a small New Zealand business. www.foragedandcurated.com

Thanks for shopping with a local business this festive season – they will truly appreciate it!