Greenstone Factory Shop

Love the timeless nature of this place. It is so Kingsland, in fact it has been in Kingsland longer than Kingsland has been in Kingsland.
If you are in Auckland and in the market for local greenstone or bone carving, this is the place. A huge selection of nicely done pieces. It is definitely a factory setting, so be ready for a low key experience, but you will find reasonably priced and lovely pieces here for sure.

The Greenstone Factory is the perfect place to stock up on kiwi souvenirs for tourists and locals alike. It is considerably cheaper than the souvenir stores you would find downtown. They have a huge range of Maori carvings including (as the name would suggest) greenstone, but also bone, black jade, paua, wood etc. They also have a collection of more classical jewellery with a kiwi flavour as well as wooden statues, plates etc. It’s a must for visitors to the city or for locals looking for kiwi-​themed gifts.
Be warned that it can get busy with tourists at times so there can be a wait to get served.

I’m a stickler for the rules when it comes to my friends visiting from overseas — there are places to take them and gifts to give them when they leave. I always, always, always give people greenstone when they leave New Zealand, and make sure the shape (and the meaning of said shape) suits them. Given this rigid belief, I was almost embarrassed to recently discover the Greenstone Factory Shop. I have always bought greenstone from K’Road, until back in December, when I couldn’t find the right pendant. I googled greenstone and set it to my local area, and bam! This factory shop, which has been staring me in the face every time I drive along New North Road, was right there all along. And it’s MASSIVE. Head there to check out the sheer enormity of pendants they have there.
Quick tip — if you don’t want to wait four weeks for your payment to clear (through the «zip-​zap» machine they use), take cash.