Buy Kiwi, a new online buying network that connects New Zealanders to Kiwi-owned businesses, has launched to help local businesses.

Customers can browse and purchase products and services from Kiwi-owned companies using the online shopping platform after registering for free. The platform offers products including cosmetics, books, fishing gear, toys, homewares, and hardware.

“If we can get more Kiwis supporting Kiwi-owned businesses, we will be able to keep more money in the country, retain and create more jobs and, by extension, help local communities,” said Jamie Farmer, MD at Buy Kiwi.

“If every Kiwi diverted just $50 per week spent with overseas companies to New Zealand-owned businesses, it would deliver $250 million per week back into the local economy.”

According to Buy Kiwi, the concept of the e-commerce platform arose during the early stages of the lockdown, when many small New Zealand-owned businesses were forced to close due to a lack of market access. More recently, the online company felt it could help enterprises harmed by Cyclone Gabrielle and recent flood catastrophes.

Buy Kiwi said any business can register to be recognised as a vendor as long as it is at least 80 per cent New Zealand-owned.

Further reading: GrabOne offers free listings, ads for cyclone-affected small businesses