Indulge in Classic Comfort…

Classic Sheepskins was established in 1969 and has since successfully grown and created a reputable name for itself as a premium New Zealand Tannery. Look closer at their product range and one will find a vast array of unique and functional wool accessories. All have been designed with your comfort in mind and all provide additional benefits which wool is renowned for.

Wool is one of the most functional and unique natural fibers known to us. It has a multitude of qualities which set it apart from most other fibers including Silk and Cotton. Being highly resilient and durable; wool fiber has the ability to bend back on itself over 20,000 times without breaking. In addition to the added crimp and ultra-springy like make-up of the individual fibers means wool underlays and medical sheepskins in particular can act like a type of ‘therapeutic cushion’. Making them effective in providing pressure point relief found on the body for the user.

Wool is a natural insulator and can help self-regulate one’s body temperature during both colder climates and hotter or humid temperatures. Wool has the ability trap air within and between its fibers and this trapped air helps to insulate the user from the underlying surface. The body is thus kept at a consistent and even temperature keeping the user cooler in humid conditions and near body temperature as it gets colder.

Wool can also absorb a great deal of moisture and can absorb up to 30-40% of its own weight in moisture alone. Wool’s ability to absorb and wick away moisture from the skin helps keep the skin dry this helps towards the prevention of pressure/bed sores and also the breakdown of skin cells particularly for those infirmed and bed ridden for extended periods of time.

Wool does not have to be treated to become inflammable and it will not support a flame; being a hypoallergenic fiber it is kind to sensitive skins and to those with rashes and other dermatitis conditions.        

Mother Nature has blessed us with a versatile and special natural fiber which tannery professionals such as Classic Sheepskins can transform into high functioning and highly comfortable wool products and accessories. Whether you are looking for a comfortable wool slipper, car seat cover or a medical sheepskin/underlay; Classic Sheepskins has successfully created such products and many more.

All can be found at the one-stop Shop New Zealand.

Classic Sheepskins @ Shop New Zealand.

Mad about chocolate…

 

Whittaker’s is one of New Zealand’s most trusted brands; in fact, it IS New Zealand’s most trusted brand as voted in the annual Reader’s Digest survey. And why not? It makes some of the world’s finest chocolates, being a bean to bar manufacture that keeps an eye on their precious cocoa beans from the farm to the factory. They turn their Ghanaian and Malagasy (Madagascar) cocoa beans directly into their renowned chocolates, as opposed to melting them first and then turning them into chocolate products. This bean to bar process is done for two main reasons; firstly, it ensures that the beans retain their natural flavor (especially important since Whittaker’s uses some of the finest cocoa beans) and, secondly, to make sure that chocolate is made in the most ethical and sustainable way possible (Whittaker’s purchases its beans from the Ghanaian Cocoa board that tries to ensure responsible and ethical practices).  This bean to bar methodology also applies to their non-cocoa related ingredients like macadamia nuts and almonds. Whittaker’s only sources the finest ingredients to be used in their chocolate. 

But it’s not like Whittaker’s emerged as one of Australasia's premium chocolate makers overnight. The business started when James Henry Whittaker immigrated to New Zealand in 1890 and begun making his own chocolate in his Christchurch home to be sold door to door. In 1913 two of J.H Whittaker’s sons, Ronald and James, joined their father in partnership to establish J.H. Whittaker and Sons. Today Whittaker’s is still a family run business that is committed to producing excellent tasting chocolates. Despite the age of the business, it still continues to innovate and add new products to their line. There are too many delicious Whittaker’s chocolate (and non-chocolate) treats to list here, but take a look for yourself at Shop NewZealand.

Whittaker's range @ Shop New Zealand

Honest skincare

Nuzee is a New Zealand skincare company that focusses on producing natural products that are gentle on your skin and on the earth. All the products in their ‘Natural’ and ‘Organic’ range bears the Bio Gro certified logo. Bio Gro is a New Zealand organic certifier that audits manufacturers according to principles of sustainability concerning organic cultivation and manufacturing processes. Their standards exceed the New Zealand Government's own organic standards and the fact that all Nuzee products bear their logo is a testament to the fact that their stringent policies have been met. This ensures that from the farm to the factory, you can trust that Nuzee products attempt to stick to the highest natural, organic and transparent standards. Nuzee products are also produced in small runs in the belief that this assists in ensuring that the quality of Nuzee products are not compromised.

In particular Nuzee’s Organic Series product line adheres to principles such as excluding the use of:

• Water: organic aloe vera juice is used in the place of water.
•    Paraben Preservatives: replaced with Benzyl alcohol, dehydroacetic acid (DHA) and potassium sorbate as certified by Bio Gro. Parabens are alleged to possibly cause cancers.
• Coloring: excluding colouring ensures that the natural colour, plant oils and other characteristics are maintained.
•    Synthetic oils: excluded because they could clog pores and cause acne. Organic plant oils are used in their place.
•  Artificial Fragrance: can irritate skin and cause allergies.
•    Peg Emulsifier: might cause skin allergies. Olive oil used instead.

Nuzee’s Organic series tries to utilise the best ingredients found in the pristine areas of New Zealand. The gentleness of the ingredients means that many of their moisturizers are appropriate for use on the face, as well as the rest of the body. Nuzee’s concern with pure natural ingredients possibly stems from the fact that this company began life making products that catered to children with weak skin immunity. Although they have now grown and branched out into other areas, their products still reflect their original principles.

Have a look at their Natural and Organic range at Shop NewZealand.

Stay on top of your game…

Some of us are on-the-go more than others and increasingly in today’s ever changing and demanding world we are subjected to the pressures which living busy lives can bring. Lack of sleep, increasing stress levels from working or playing too hard, the need to juggle family and social commitments, on top of sporting and hobby pursuits leaves us at times run down, unmotivated or just plain tired.

Thompson’s nutritional products provide natural health and well being remedies helping you to stay physically and mentally on top of your game.Thompson’s was established in 1951 as the first health shop in New Zealand by respected and now renowned herbalist M. Barrington Thompson. Immediately business began booming as word spread of his effective and popular herbal formula's. The brand has become a market leader in the field of natural herbal products and exports around the globe. Because of significant international expansion and business acquisitions Thompsons changed its name to Integria Healthcare. This in part is to more accurately reflect the diverse portfolio of healthcare businesses within the group which are all market leaders in their respective fields.       

Lack of Sleep and too much stress are today’s common culprits…

Lack of sleep and insomnia have a direct impact on the quality of our wellbeing. Some of us can productively function on as little as five hours sleep a day, however it is the majority, those of us who require seven to eight hours of sleep are the ones who are most susceptible to the effects from lack of rest.  For many sleep is something ‘we do’ once our daily grind is over, sporting, social and family commitments take priority over the need to get quality rest or in many instances, it is our busy challenging lives which are actually preventing us from getting a quality or uninterrupted sleep.  

This lack of rest can lead to feelings of grumpiness, leave us unmotivated, depressed and with little energy to meet our daily life challenges. We can also become more susceptible to stress factors as our stress level threshold lowers once lack of sleep becomes recurrent.    

It is important to know the symptoms which recurring lack of sleep is associated with;

• Difficulty falling asleep and staying asleep
• Waking up during the night or too early and having difficulty falling back to sleep
• Waking up tired, non-refreshed or irritable because of poor quality or too short a sleep

Just as important as it is to be aware of the symptoms which lack of sleep brings we must also understand some of the possible causes of insomnia;

• Stress and too much of it
• Feelings of anxiety and depression
• Excessive use of stimulants such as caffeine, recreational drugs, smoking and alcohol
• Restless legs syndrome
• Obesity and the associated problem of Sleep Apnea
• Working Shifts, in effect disturbing ones bio-rhythm

Medical herbalists such as Thompsons have a range of non-addictive herbs in order to promote a good night’s sleep and also ones overall mood balance. As quality sleep, reducing stress and a balanced mood can be the precursors to one’s overall wellbeing, herbal remedies such as Thompsons Mood Manager can help you stay on top of your game. You may also like to browse Shop New Zealand’s range of Thompson’s Health Products which range from the Mood Manager to a digestion and cholesterol manager, in addition to others. 

  

Kia Ora from New Zealand!

Ora is a proud kiwi company that started its life in 2009 when three sisters, Tessa Davis, Adele Anderson and Karen Renata, of Maori heritage hailing from the Ngati Kahungunu Iwi, or tribe, decided to create a beauty range that utilised traditional Maori knowledge and ingredients.

Central to their business is the use of the Mamaku black tree fern plant extract. Regularly growing to heights of twenty metres, the Mamaku’s young fronds and core of the trunk, or koata, was harvested and eaten by Maori as a rich source of carbohydrates and protein.  Even today, the Mamaku plant can still be found as a staple kai (food) at Maori feasts. In the past the Mamaku was such an important food sources for the Maori that they placed Tapu (sacrosanct restrictions) on the plant. Maori high priests would declare certain resources Tapu to prevent the overexploitation of that natural resource. Disobeying such a Tapu could potentially, and often would, result in death. Harvested for centuries by generations of Maori, the great Mamaku has served the native peoples of Aoteoroa (literally meaning ‘land of the long white cloud, or New Zealand) as both a food source and a natural healer.

Ora inherits this Maori tradition, taking from and respecting the Papatuanuku, or earth mother, that provides us here in New Zealand with an abundance of natural resources. Long known to the Maori as a potent healer with cooling and moisturising properties, Ora has naturally chosen to incorporate the Mamaku into their skincare range. From their Mamaku Revival Gel that helps to restore dry overexposed skin and can even be used on scars and burns, to their range of shower and bath products to rejuvenate and nourish skin, Ora harnesses the natural properties of Mamaku and other native New Zealand plants to nourish and repair our skin. Plants such as the Kowhai and Kawakawa have long been used by Maori and can be found in Ora’s products. It is fitting then, that the young spiral fronds of the Mamaku tree fern became a national symbol (the koru) for New Zealand. The koru fronds symbolise regeneration, new life and new beginnings, the perfect ambassador for New Zealand and Ora’s skincare products.

Be sure to browse Ora’s range here if you are interested in trying their New Zealand made beauty products.

Viva Villa Maria

Villa Maria is New Zealand’s most awarded and internationally recognised winery. Though today it is an amazing international success story embodying the can do and savvy attitude of ordinary kiwis, the winery actually started in humble beginnings, in the back of the family farm on an acre of land in Mangere, Auckland.

Behind all the glitz and glamour is the founder of Villa Maria, Sir George Fistonich, who recently celebrated the 50^th anniversary of the winery. Through George’s dedication and hard work, Villa Maria has grown to become one of the finest wineries in the world, employing 250 staff with operations in the Auckland, Hawke’s Bay and Marlborough regions. In particular, the wineries in Auckland and Marlborough utilise state of the art facilities to produce premium quality wines for export to over fifty (50) countries.

In 2001 Villa Maria made headlines around the world by declaring the business a “cork free zone”. A radical and surprising move in an industry that tends to avoid change and stick to tradition. And yet, presently you’ll find screw cap wine bottles from New York to Paris. Villa Maria was also the first winery in New Zealand to employ viticulturist. These are just some of the tiny examples of how Villa Maria made a global impact and became known as an industry game changer.

Presently Villa Maria has a four tiered wine range; the Villa Maria Reserve, Single Vineyard, Cellar Selection and Private Bin. Common with other Kiwi wineries, Villa Maria focusses primarily on producing the Sauvignon Blanc, Chardonnay, Pinot Noir, Riesling and Bordeaux (i.e. Merlot) varieties.  Though, like many other wineries with vineyards in the Marlborough region, Villa Maria is particularly famous for its Sauvignon Blanc. New Zealand has been continually applauded for the quality and taste of its Sauvignon Blanc, particularly those sourced from the famous Marlborough vineyards.

So, if you’re up for a tipple, try Villa Maria extensive range of wines. You’ll find a them at Shop New Zealand, we ship the finest New Zealand wines to the world*.

Villa Maria Wines from Shop New Zealand

*Subject to the relevant country’s import regulations

An Unexpected Journey

        As far back as 1995, Peter Jackson and his co-writer wife, Fran Walsh, had expressed interest in adapting The Hobbit into a film. They intended The Hobbit to be part one of their Lord of the Rings (LOTR) trilogy. However, due to problems over legal ownership of the rights to The Hobbit and Peter Jackson’s lawsuit against New Line Cinema over lost income, the adaptation of The Hobbit fell into a limbo.

        Then in 2007 it was announced that New Line Cinema, in partnership with MGM Studios, would go ahead with the adaptation of The Hobbit. However, Peter Jackson chose not to direct, remaining only as executive producer. Nevertheless, it looked as if The Hobbit would finally come to fruition as a motion picture, albeit without Peter Jackson at the helm, only for hopes to be dashed when the Tolkien Estate (through the Tolkien Charity) and Harper Collins Publisher sued New Line Cinema for what they saw as fraud by the studio for withholding entitled profits from them (the Tolkien Estate being entitled to 7% of all profits made from Tokien films). This was eventually settled out of court, but the legal process had blocked the filming of The Hobbit from progressing.  When filming finally began, the Mexican director Guillermo del Toro was chosen to spearhead the film project. But because of financial issues and other bureaucratic nuances relating to The Hobbit production, del Toro felt that the delays were too much for him to remain as director and announced that he was leaving the role. After many talks, in October 2010 New Line Cinema (who had now merged with Warner Bros) revealed to the public that Peter Jackson would replace del Toro as director. The troubles with The Hobbit didn't end there though, when the International Federation of Actors issued a ‘no work order’ that threatened to delay production further and possibly even cause it to move from New Zealand to skirt the industrial dispute. Eventually, with widespread protests and the intervention of the New Zealand Prime Minister, John Key, the dispute was settled and production stayed in the country.

        Now after years of waiting, and almost a decade after the release of the last LOTR film (The Return of the King), the first part of The Hobbit (An Unexpected Journey) will premiere in Wellington, New Zealand on the 28^th of November to what is sure to be an enthusiastic reaction from millions of J.R.R. Tolkien fans around the world.

        To celebrate this momentous moment in cinematic history, Shop New Zealand has begun stocking a large range of The Hobbit: An Unexpected Journey related collectibles and memorabilia. Take a sneak peak and be prepared for the inevitable release of director Peter Jackson’s latest adaptation of Tolkien’s work!

We’re just as stoked as the millions of Tolkien and Peter Jackson fans around the world!

The Hobbit: An Unexpected Journey Collectibles and Memorabilia.

Mana Shochu

     Shochu is a traditional Japanese spirit that has been drunk in Japan for centuries. Speculation has it that Shochu came from Japan from as far away as Persia. It is made using base ingredients such as sweet potato, wheat and barley that undergo a traditional single distillation process called Honkaku Shochu. This gives Shochu a distinct flavour that is highly dependent on the ingredients that were used to create it.

     Mana Shochu is unique because it is a New Zealand take on the Japanese Shochu spirit. Mana Shochu uses only the finest Owairaka Red Kumara (sweet potato) from the peaty fields of the Ruawai Township in New Zealand’s North Island. However, Mana Shochu sticks to Japanese tradition when it comes to the way they distil their Shochu. They use the same single distillation process that captures the aroma and flavours of the primary ingredients. This allows the sweetness and earthiness of the Owairaka Red Kumara to show through in their wide range of Shochus. Mana Shochu is only one of a few foreign Shochu makers in the world and, as if that wasn’t unique enough, they are also one of a few to have created flavoured ‘new age’ Shochus. Choose from their selection of lemon, gold kiwifruit and casis (blackcurrant) Shochu. These still have the distinct flavour of their straight Owairaka Red Kumara Shochu, but with the added bonus of an extra fruity zing.

     Shochu is also the healthier alternative to other spirits and alcoholic beverages. Shochu has fewer impurities than other alcohols such as sake or whiskey. This means that there’s less chance of developing a hangover the next day! Shochu is also lower in calories, only containing 35 calories per 50ml compared to 120 for vodka and 80 for sake. This has made it popular among the diet conscious and women. So much so that in 2003 sales of Shochu outstripped that of sake and Shochu is fast becoming a common sight in the trendiest of bars from Shanghai to New York. The Miyazaki Medical College has conducted research showing that Shochu provides an enzyme that dissolves and inhibits the growth of blood clots. Shochu provided higher levels of this enzyme than the other spirits tested; twice more than red wine and 80 per cent more than sake. The Japanese centenarian Shigechiyo Izumi, who was verified as the oldest living man by the Guinness Book of Records, drank Shochu every night for the last fifty years of his life.

With a great taste and many potential health benefits, there’s very little not to like about Shochu. Try Mana Shochu’s Owairaka Red Kumara Shochu or any one of their new-fangled fruity flavoured Shochus!

Mana Shochu 

Trilogy

     The cosmetics industry today can be described as two camps. On one side you have the small all-natural skincare companies that often put together elixirs that feel heavy, unprocessed and rough. In the other camp you have the big corporations that make highly refined and fancy skincare products.

     
     Trilogy falls firmly in between these two camps. They make high quality natural skincare products that do not overpower your senses and are light on your skin.  This was no mistake; the company was started by two sisters who wanted to fill this gap in the cosmetics market. Today Trilogy focuses on offering natural and certified organic products to consumers without sacrificing quality, living up to the goal of its founders and taking the skincare industry by storm.

Browse Shop New Zealand’s range of Trilogy products!

Osteoporosis, a major pain in the... bones!

How much do you know about Osteoporosis? That it's an old ladies disease? That it can only affect people with rusty old creaky joints?

What if I told you that Osteoporosis can affect women as young as 25. Or that around 40% of women will suffer from an Osteoporosis related fracture in their lifetime?

And men! Don't think that you're safe from this horrible disease either. Thirteen per cent of men will suffer from a fracture because of this disease in their lifetime. And it gets worst with age, half of women and a third of men over the age of 60 WILL have osteoporosis. Furthermore, 20% of people who have an osteoporosis related hip fracture die from their injury and a third of those who survive are permanently hospitalised.

The worst thing about this disease is that there is NO CURE and that it can strike SUDDENLY without warning. Often the first symptom of Osteoporosis is a bone fracture, by then it is already too late. This is because Osteoporosis is a disease that causes your bones to gradually lose their bone density over time. Your bones have already been considerably weakened once you have suffered a fracture. This is why, especially in the case of Osteoporosis, prevention is better than cure.

Things such as keeping to a good diet and getting regular exercise can help to reduce your chances of developing Osteoporosis. In terms of diet, you should get enough calcium and vitamin D into your system. Everyone knows that foods such as cheese and milk are great sources of calcium. But how about vitamin D? Many of us simply do not get enough vitamin D because of our sedentary lifestyles. Our body naturally creates its supply of vitamin D through the absorption of sunlight by the skin. But modern living means that we simply do not spend enough time outdoors for our body to absorb enough sunlight to create adequate levels of vitamin D. An alternative to this is to take supplements to boost calcium and vitamin D levels in our body.

Which sag-ways us to the second tip, GET MORE EXERCISE! Being more active increases the strain on our bones that encourages them to stiffen and become stronger. And if you are more active, chances are, you are getting enough sunlight to produce more vitamin D!

So eat the right foods, or take quality supplements, exercise lots and try to spend at least 30 minutes each day in the sunlight (consider using a sunscreen though!). If you know someone who suffers from Osteoporosis please try to be understanding and keep them safe by reducing their risk of falling and injuring themselves!

If you are worried about developing Osteoporosis, you can take the FRAX, or Fracture Risk Assessment Tool, test (link below) to calculate your risk of developing osteoporosis in a ten year period.

FRAX Assessment Tool

Joint Care Supplements