By India Lopez
Editorial & Production Manager | Pou Whakahaere Pānui Ētita, Whakaputa Hautaonga
Everyone’s got one – that purchase you love so much that you can’t bear to be without it. I asked around Consumer NZ headquarters and found that, true to form, we have very strong opinions about our most beloved products.
The office audiophiles
Bex’s headphones
“They’re not the highest rated, nor are they the cheapest, but I really love my new headphones. They’re super easy to connect to my phone, and the noise cancellation is surprisingly good for something so tiny. (Like, seriously, how do they do it? It must be magic.) Consumer’s rating helped me justify what (let’s be honest) I was going to buy anyway as a smart buy, because they’re both a People’s Choice brand and a Recommended product.” Bex Radford, head of engagement
Frank’s headphones
“I recently upgraded headphones when my old pair fell apart after years of abuse. The best in our test, these are hard to fault – great sound, easy to use, comfy and durable. To be honest, I was probably expecting a bigger jump up in audio quality when I upgraded, so if you’re not one of those people who need the latest gizmo, rest assured you’ll be well served by the older versions of this model and save yourself a couple hundred bucks.” Frank Ramsden Bradley, digital experience manager
Amy’s headphones
“I recently bought two pairs of headphones that I now can’t live without! They’re not Consumer Recommended models, as our criteria are pretty tough, given the amazing tech in modern headphones. But they sound decent, have good noise cancellation and don’t cost a fortune. That’s precisely what I needed.
“I started with just one pair for work. They help keep me focused on what I’m doing and minimise interruptions. The on-ear design provides quite good physical (‘passive’) noise cancellation without active noise cancellation (ANC) turned on. But they can also be used with ANC, with or without playing audio.”
“This inspired me to then get a pair for home. They perform similarly to the other model for noise cancellation, but since they have a larger over-ear design, it’s more obvious to people I’m wearing them and may not want to be disturbed. That’s exactly why I got them. I live in tight quarters with neighbours and sometimes just want some undisturbed time out to relax in the garden at home. These headphones also let me listen to podcasts and audiobooks while I’m cleaning the house, turning down the volume on the vacuum cleaner, which the open-ear headphones I love (for entirely different reasons) don’t.” Amy McNabb, test data analyst
The office glam squad
Abby’s eyelash curler
“I love my Shiseido eyelash curler. It’s the best.” Abby Damen, communications & campaigns advisor
Jacinta’s deodorant
“Nuud deodorant. You only need to use it two or three times a week, and it’s cruelty-free, all natural and biodegradable. Absolute game-changer!” Jacinta Allen, business analyst / project manager
Maisie’s hair styler
“OK, OK, this is a bit bougie. I was sceptical as well at first. After months of it being thrust upon me via my TikTok explore page, I caved and bought the Dyson Airwrap i.d. multi-styler and dryer. It is so clever – it connects to an app that can control its styling settings. I have the world’s straightest hair, which can never hold a curl, but the Dyson saved me from my cruel flat-hair fate. I can also curl my hair without it getting stuck, leading to an emergency haircut (may be a true story). The Dyson is definitely pricey, but for an at-home blow-out and non-crispy hair, it’s so worth it.” Maisie Arnold-Barron, digital journalist
Aneleise’s hairdryer
“My Parlux Alyon hairdryer – it was expensive but totally worth it. I’ve had it for a few years and use it several times a week. Whenever I go away without it and have to use a hotel or motel hairdryer, I regret not taking mine.” Aneleise Gawn, senior advisor – legal and policy
The office bookworms
Rebecca’s reading light
“My partner bought me this reading light, which clips to a book, a few summers ago after arguments over when lights-out should be. To say it saved our relationship may be an overstatement, but, thankfully, I still have him and literature in my life. The light recharges quickly, lasts for ages and is such a simple solution.” Rebecca Styles, research lead
Aneleise’s Kobo e-reader
“My Kobo Clara – it’s lightweight and repairable, and you can adjust the brightness, colour temperature and blue light so it doesn’t keep you awake.” Aneleise Gawn, senior advisor – legal and policy
Sally’s Kindle e-reader
“I switched from ‘real’ books about 13 years ago and upgraded to the Kindle Oasis three years ago, which I love but which, sadly, they no longer make. I love that it’s light and fits in my bag. It’s saved me not only space (no more books that I can’t bear to part with!) but also money. I pay for a Kindle Unlimited subscription, meaning lots of books are free or very cheap. I think I read around 32 books last year.” Sally Sexton, human resources advisor
The office cyclists
Joe’s e-bike
“Years ago, I tried to be a cycle commuter on a regular push bike, but the Wellington wind and hills got the better of me. But since buying this bike, I’ve made cycling my main commute option. The electric assist motor means you still have to pedal and feel like you’ve had a workout, but it has enough power to get through most Wellington northerlies.” Joe Slater, head of product
Paul’s e-bike
“Definitely my e-bike, Red Rocket. It’s been life-changing. I get to work faster than I would driving and much faster than taking the bus. I save a fortune on parking, and it’s genuinely a lot of fun to ride. I live in Wellington, but Red Rocket absolutely eats up the hills. I’ve added panniers and a basket, so I now use it for the supermarket run on the way home as well.
“I originally bought it to commute to work, but I enjoy riding it so much that I’ve started taking it out for weekend adventures too. You can cover a lot of ground without getting tired, and on a sunny day, riding along the harbour is pure magic. I’ve lived in Wellington for years, but the bike has helped me discover new places and see familiar parts of the city from a completely different perspective. It’s one of those purchases that has ended up being far more useful – and enjoyable – than I ever expected.” Paul Fuge, Powerswitch manager
Here’s what we thought of the same bike (in a less fun colour):
