“The key thing for businesses will be to make moves quite rapidly if their costs are going up,” says Wilkinson.

Juanita Neville-Te Rito of RX Group agrees that geopolitical instability will make consumers selective. “But selective is not the same as closed. Consumers are being responsive to cost of living, responsive to comparison tools and responsive to fatigue.”

Both experts remain hopeful, emphasising that despite the global political instability, there are genuinely positive signs within the retail sector. “There’s some reinvestment happening, which is exciting,” says Wilkinson. “And discretionary sectors, like clothing, are doing really well at the moment. Overall, it’s quite a contrast compared to last year.”

Numbers to know 

3 years

The new minimum expiry for gift cards in New Zealand.

New legislation came into force in March requires all gift cards and vouchers to have a minimum expiry date of three years, and the specific expiry date (or the date the card was sold, along with the terms) must be printed on the gift card.

54%

The year-on-year increase in Gen Z purchases on Roblox³ between 2024 and 2025.

These figures - combined with a 10 per cent uptick in Gen Z orders from TikTok - signals a shift in where young consumers are spending money, with gaming platforms and virtual goods competing for wallet share.

2 hours

The new, fast delivery option introduced by Petdirect.

Petdirect has introduced a two-hour delivery option in Auckland and Christchurch, in addition to its same-day service. The pet retailer is partnering with Doordash to offer the service. It comes as a growing number of New Zealand retailers, from Flo & Frankie to Glassons, offer same-day and rapid delivery options. 

Innovations

The rise of rental retail

First there were peer-to-peer accommodation platforms (AirBnb). Then Uber and CityHop made it common for people to rent out cars. Now, Gen Z is turning to peer-to-peer platforms for lower-ticket items. In the US, platforms like Tulerie, Hygglo and Yoodlize are making it possible to rent everything from cameras to carpet cleaners. The trend is catching on in both Australia and New Zealand, with sites like Sharehub specialising in hiring tools, equipment, photography gear and outdoor products. Overseas, mega retailer IKEA has begun opening stores that feature a “library of things” where customers can rent tools to assemble furniture. 

Mini everything

More than 18,000 Kiwis were prescribed GLP-1 weight-loss drugs, such as Mounjaro and Wegovy⁴, in 2025. But the drugs aren’t just shifting weight; they’re also shifting appetites – and restaurants here and overseas are already rewriting menus to cater smaller appetites. Major US chain Olive Garden launched a dedicated "Lighter Portions" menu section nationwide in January, while over in the UK supermarket Morrisons rolled out a 53-product GLP-1-friendly range the same month. Earlier this year, in New Zealand, My Food Bag introduced a GLP-1 Support menu under its Fresh Start brand.

Customer-first focus winner

Content is often treated as an add-on for businesses looking to drive sales. But for The Sleep Store, it’s central to the proposition – and it helped the retailer win Customer Service Experience of the Year at the recent Retail NZ awards. The digital-first parenting retailer sells swaddles, wraps, sleeping bags and sleepwear, but its real differentiator is a deep understanding of its customer. In the early months of parenthood, sleep can be both urgent and elusive – which is why the retailer offers fast delivery, and a comprehensive support ecosystem around its products. This includes a library of articles and a team of expert sleep coaches, who are ready to provide help on The Sleep Store’s Facebook groups or via live chat and email.

^{1 Statistics NZ}, ^{2 Trading Economics}, ^{3 Retail Technology Roadshow}, ^{4 Radio New Zealand}