Hamilton

๐Ÿ“ฆ

Household Essentials

Essential items and furniture needed when setting up a home in Hamilton.

Sections

1. Furniture

Hamilton has a mix of large retailers, second-hand stores, and online marketplaces for sourcing furniture. Here are your main options:

New Furniture

  • Harvey Norman (Te Rapa and Hamilton Central): A popular retailer for furniture, electronics, and appliances. Offers a wide range of sofas, dining tables, beds, and more.

    • Price Range: NZD 300โ€“2,000+ for sofas, NZD 500โ€“1,500 for dining sets.
    • Website: www.harveynorman.co.nz

  • Freedom Furniture (Te Rapa): Known for modern and stylish furniture.

  • Big Save Furniture (Te Rapa): Affordable furniture with frequent sales.

    • Price Range: NZD 200โ€“1,500 for beds, NZD 300โ€“1,000 for dining sets.
    • Website: www.bigsave.co.nz

  • Kmart (The Base Shopping Centre, Te Rapa): Budget-friendly furniture and home essentials.

    • Price Range: NZD 20โ€“300 for small furniture items like shelves, chairs, and tables.
    • Website: www.kmart.co.nz

Second-Hand Furniture

  • Habitat for Humanity ReStore (Lake Road): A charity shop offering second-hand furniture, appliances, and home goods at affordable prices.

  • Trade Me (Online): New Zealandโ€™s largest online marketplace for buying and selling second-hand goods, including furniture.

    • Price Range: Varies widely; sofas from NZD 50โ€“500, dining tables from NZD 50โ€“300.
    • Website: www.trademe.co.nz

  • Facebook Marketplace: A convenient platform for finding second-hand furniture locally in Hamilton.

    • Price Range: Often negotiable; sofas from NZD 50โ€“300, beds from NZD 100โ€“400.

2. Kitchenware

For kitchen essentials like cookware, utensils, and appliances, Hamilton has several options:

  • Briscoes (Te Rapa): A go-to store for kitchenware, often running sales with discounts of up to 50%.

    • Price Range: NZD 10โ€“100 for utensils, NZD 50โ€“300 for cookware sets.
    • Website: www.briscoes.co.nz

  • The Warehouse (Multiple Locations): Affordable kitchenware, including pots, pans, and small appliances.

  • Kmart (The Base Shopping Centre): Budget-friendly kitchen essentials.

    • Price Range: NZD 5โ€“50 for utensils, NZD 20โ€“80 for cookware.

  • Farmers (Hamilton Central): Offers mid-range to high-end kitchenware and small appliances.

    • Price Range: NZD 20โ€“200 for cookware, NZD 50โ€“300 for small appliances.
    • Website: www.farmers.co.nz

3. Bedding

Bedding includes mattresses, sheets, duvets, and pillows. Hereโ€™s where to shop:

  • Bed Bath & Beyond (Te Rapa): Specializes in bedding and home textiles.

  • Briscoes (Te Rapa): Regular sales on bedding items.

    • Price Range: NZD 20โ€“100 for sheets, NZD 50โ€“150 for duvets.

  • The Warehouse: Affordable bedding options.

    • Price Range: NZD 10โ€“50 for sheets, NZD 30โ€“100 for duvets.

  • Sleepyhead Factory Outlet (Te Rapa): Great for discounted mattresses and bedding.

    • Price Range: NZD 300โ€“1,500 for mattresses.

4. Grocery Supplies

Hamilton has a variety of supermarkets and specialty stores for groceries and household cleaning supplies:

Supermarkets

  • Countdown (Multiple Locations): A major supermarket chain offering a wide range of groceries and household items.

    • Price Range: Weekly grocery bill for one person is around NZD 80โ€“120.
    • Website: www.countdown.co.nz

  • Pakโ€™nSave (Mill Street): Known for its low prices and bulk-buy options.

    • Price Range: Weekly grocery bill for one person is around NZD 70โ€“100.
    • Website: www.paknsave.co.nz

  • New World (Hillcrest and Rototuna): Offers a more premium shopping experience with a focus on fresh produce and specialty items.

    • Price Range: Weekly grocery bill for one person is around NZD 90โ€“130.
    • Website: www.newworld.co.nz

Specialty Stores

  • Asian Supermarkets: Stores like Tai Ping Trading (Te Rapa) and New Save Asian Supermarket (Hamilton Central) offer Asian groceries and specialty items.

    • Price Range: NZD 2โ€“20 for specialty items like sauces, noodles, and spices.

  • Bin Inn (Hamilton East): Great for bulk-buying pantry staples like flour, grains, and spices.

    • Price Range: NZD 5โ€“20 per kg for bulk items.

5. Setting Up a New Home: Procedures and Tips

  • Utilities:

    • Electricity and Gas: Contact providers like Genesis Energy, Mercury, or Contact Energy to set up your account. Expect to pay around NZD 150โ€“250 per month for electricity and gas combined, depending on usage.
    • Internet: Providers like Spark, Vodafone, and Orcon offer plans starting at NZD 70โ€“100 per month for unlimited broadband.

  • Rubbish and Recycling: Hamilton City Council provides wheelie bins for rubbish and recycling. Youโ€™ll need to purchase pre-paid rubbish bags (around NZD 2.50 each) for collection.

  • Transportation: If you donโ€™t have a car, Hamiltonโ€™s bus network is operated by Busit. Fares range from NZD 2.40โ€“3.50 per trip with a Bee Card.

6. Local and Cultural Considerations

  • Kiwi DIY Culture: New Zealanders often embrace a do-it-yourself (DIY) approach to home setup. Stores like Mitre 10 and Bunnings Warehouse are great for tools and materials if you plan to assemble or repair furniture yourself.

  • Second-Hand Shopping: Buying second-hand is common and environmentally friendly. Trade Me and Facebook Marketplace are widely used for this purpose.

  • Sales and Discounts: Look out for sales during public holidays like Labour Day (October) and Boxing Day (December) to save on household essentials.

  • Sustainability: Hamilton residents are environmentally conscious. Recycling and composting are encouraged, and many stores offer eco-friendly products.

By following this guide, youโ€™ll be well-equipped to source household essentials and set up your new home in Hamilton, New Zealand. Let me know if you need further assistance!