This Christmas brings gaming, wellbeing & experience gifts
This year's Christmas shopping season is shaping up with a variety of products targeting a broad range of interests, from gamers and fitness enthusiasts to those looking for practical stocking fillers.
Gaming selection
A diverse selection of gaming options features prominently again this year. The recently launched Astro Bot, listed at NZD $124.95, appeals to families seeking a game night together. Astro Bot offers more than 50 levels, each with challenges and secrets designed to cater to players of varying experience levels.
For those seeking an immersive gaming experience, PlayStation's new Ghost of Yōtei, retailing at NZD $139.95, is set in 16th-century Hokkaidō. The title follows the legacy of the Ghost of Tsushima franchise, offering an open-world adventure with a focus on cinematic landscapes and intricate combat systems.
Hardware options like DualSense controllers (from NZD $129.95) continue to expand in colour and capabilities to heighten gameplay, alongside the PlayStation 5 Console, starting from NZD $859.95. Also featuring this year is the PlayStation Portal Remote Player, a device retailing at NZD $379.95 that streams PS5 games via Wi-Fi to provide handheld access throughout the home, supplied with full DualSense controller functionality.
Stocking options
Personal grooming products form a notable part of this season's stocking stuffer suggestions. Billie's award-winning Razor Starter Kit, priced at NZD $15.50, includes an ergonomic handle, 5-blade cartridge and a magnetic holder. The range also includes Whipped Shave Cream (NZD $16.50), 3-Blade Disposable Razors (NZD $9.99), and a Dermaplane kit (NZD $12.49), available in several colour variants and designed for convenience and skincare needs.
Digital gifts remain a flexible choice. PlayStation Gift Cards, available from NZD $10.00, offer recipients the chance to purchase games, subscriptions, or digital content from the PlayStation store.
Novel food items are also highlighted, including Heinz Fried Chicken Sauce at NZD $6.50. The product is being positioned for a variety of dishes beyond its name, cited as a multipurpose addition for festive house gatherings.
Health supplements are also present. Healtheries Boost Effervescent Multi Orange (NZD $14.00) is described as a nutritional tablet for energy and immune health after the festive period. For those with fitness goals, Musashi Creatine Chewables (NZD $29.99) offer a sugar-reduced, tablet-form supplement aimed at muscle strength support.
Experience gifting
This year places a greater emphasis on gifting experiences, as tickets to The Grand Tour Racing Festival are available from NZD $35 per person during the first release. The event will be held in Auckland, Hamilton, and Wellington, combining racing events, food offerings, and live music to appeal to a broad audience interested in both motorsport and festival atmospheres.
Youth and charity
A new initiative, the 2degrees SupportHER Club, offers a range of merchandise, including t-shirts and hoodies priced from NZD $20. Proceeds from these items are directed to secondary schools to support girls' participation in sport, in collaboration with the NZ Sports Collective. The collection features motivational text aimed at encouraging positive self-talk among youth, with sizing options for young people and designs intended to involve family members and supporters as well.
Every dollar raised goes to secondary schools to support their girls' sports programmes, in partnership with the NZ Sports Collective.
