Shipping & Delivery Info

Where does my gift come from?

We Love Local is an online store without any physical locations. All orders are sent with NZ courier companies from our warehouse located in the lower North Island.

If your order needs to arrive by a specific date, please contact us before placing an order to discuss your options and avoid disappointment.

Contact us via email →

📞 or call toll free: 0800 663 437

NZ Gift Delivery Info

All gifts ordered from our website are delivered by NZ Post or Pace (for Wellington express shipping).

Order processing times

• Orders placed before 2 PM are dispatched the same business day for delivery within the timeframes mentioned below.
• Orders placed after 2 PM or during weekends (this includes Friday after 2 PM) are dispatched the next business day.
• Our cut-off time for Wellington same-day delivery is 11 AM (Monday-Friday only). Orders placed after this cut-off time or during weekends are guaranteed delivery the next business day.
• You will receive an email with tracking details as soon as the order has been picked up by NZ Post.

Delivery timeframes with NZ Post

• North Island: 1-2 business days after dispatch.
• South Island: 2-3 business days (or 1-2 business days if you choose express shipping) after dispatch.
• Unless specifically requested, NZ Post does not deliver on Saturdays.

We strongly recommend checking NZ Post’s delivery updates before submitting an order to see if there are any delays with parcels, e.g. due to severe weather events or flight disruptions.

Some examples:

• If you need a gift delivered to Auckland on Wednesday, it needs to be ordered by Tuesday at 2 PM at the latest for a chance to arrive the next day.
• If you need a gift delivered to Christchurch on Monday using economy shipping, we recommend ordering Thursday 2 PM at the latest (NZ Post advises 2-3 business days for delivery to the South Island) or Friday 2 PM using Express delivery.

Please note that this delivery schedule is just a guideline based on our experience of sending thousands of gift boxes nationwide. We can never guarantee parcel delivery for a specific day (other than for gifts sent with our same-day delivery service in Wellington).

If your parcel hasn’t arrived within the specified timeframe, please contact us within 7 days so we can investigate with NZ Post.

Shipping rates

Signature required only

All orders are sent with signature required, which you can remove later. You will receive an email with tracking details and instructions on how to do this when the order is shipped. We do not recommend removing the signature if you are unsure if it’s safe to leave the parcel (e.g. in apartment buildings). Please note that gifts with alcohol always require a signature and a person over 18 must be present at the delivery address to receive the parcel.

What happens if the recipient is not home or unable to answer the door?

• Should the courier not be able to obtain a signature, NZ Post will leave a card with instructions on where to collect the parcel, which is usually the closest post shop. You may also be able to see the pickup location on their tracking page.
• In some cases, recipients will have an existing “Authority To Leave” with NZ Post, meaning they will deliver the parcel without a signature (unless it contains alcohol).
• If you have removed the signature, the courier will leave the parcel according to the instructions you provided via NZ Post’s tracking page.

Tips to increase the likelihood of successful delivery

• The earlier you order the better. Please make sure you leave a note during checkout mentioning the desired delivery date.
• You will receive an email with tracking details informing you when a parcel is out for delivery. Give the recipient a heads-up that something is coming their way or grant NZ Post an ATL (Authority To Leave) from the tracking email you receive.
• Consider sending the parcel to the recipient’s workplace if they’re not working from home.

We will try our best to help you get your parcel delivered on time. If you have any questions, please get in touch.

Delivery timeframes by region and city

Returns Policy

We take great pride in working with New Zealand’s finest artisan food producers to create beautiful gift boxes. Every producer puts their heart into making these treats, and we handle them with the utmost care in our warehouse.

Quality Promise

We check every item before packing your gift to ensure everything meets our high standards. However, if you receive anything that’s not quite right:

• Let us know within 14 days of receiving your order
• Contact us at info@welovelocal.nz with photos and details of the issue
• We’ll promptly replace any faulty items at no cost to you
• No return shipping or additional fees will apply

About Returns & Exchanges

While all our products are shelf-stable, many are made in small batches with natural ingredients and have a shelf life shorter than ultra-processed food you will find at supermarkets. Because of this, we’re unable to accept returns for change of mind. If there’s an issue with your order, here’s what you need to know:

• Contact us within 14 days of receiving your order
• Return items within 15 days if requested
• Items should be in their original, unopened condition
• Use tracked shipping with signature for returns (we’ll cover costs for faulty items)
• Original shipping fees are refundable for faulty items

A 20% handling fee may apply for non-faulty returns to cover our processing and repackaging costs. We’ll always be transparent about any fees before you proceed with a return.

Special Orders

Please note:

• Custom orders are made specially for you, so they cannot be returned
• Sale items are final sale unless faulty
• Items we specially source outside our regular range cannot be returned unless faulty

We’re Here to Help

Even if your situation doesn’t fit within our returns policy, please reach out. We might be able to:

• Suggest creative ways to use your products
• Help with gift reallocation if your plans change
• Find a solution that works for you

Your satisfaction matters to us, and we’re committed to making your gifting experience wonderful.