Christchurch's thriving market scene is a great place to snaffle up goods directly from local farmers and artisans. The finest produce in Canterbury can be found at the Christchurch Farmers' Market, Riccarton House, each Saturday from 9am - noon and each Wednesday from 4pm - 7pm. These same beautiful grounds host the Sunday Artisan Market each Sunday from 11am - 2pm, featuring arts, crafts, food, coffee and live music.
Lyttelton Farmers' Market sets up shops every Saturday from 10am to 1pm in Oxford Street, with producers of quality food and drink selling direct to the public. The Opawa/St Martins Farmers' Market in Fifield Terrace is an increasingly popular destination each Sunday morning.
Another hot favourite is the Riccarton Sunday Market - having notched up 23 years, it's now the biggest market of its kind in New Zealand.
You'll find plenty to enjoy at the Avice Hill Arts & Craft Fair on Sunday 10 February from 11am - 3pm at Avice Hill Reserve, 395 Memorial Avenue, and at the Bromley Community Fair on Saturday 2 March from 11am - 2pm at Bromley Community Centre, corner of Bromley and Maces roads.
If retail's more your thing, try Re:START in Cashel Mall. Built from shipping containers and anchored by the legendary Ballantynes department store, it recently celebrated its first birthday. The 30+ shops do a roaring trade and include Johnson's Grocery, 3 Wise Men, Kathmandu, Minnie Cooper and Scorpio Books.
If you prefer the suburbs, there are numerous pockets of boutique shops to be found all over the city. You'll find a fantastic local mall at all points of the compass, including Sydenham's revamped The Colombo, which boasts retailers including Kimberleys, Redcurrent, Bolt of Cloth and Stencil.