Now more than ever New Zealanders are showing an interest in buying and supporting local businesses.
One Auckland small business owner has come up with a simple way to connect shoppers with Kiwi companies.
We've said it before but let's say it again - New Zealanders are pretty clever, coming up with business ideas from sustainable caskets to Te Reo wrapping paper - or even a bit of luxury for your pet.
If you're in the market for pretty much anything, you'll likely find it on the 'New Zealand Made Products' Facebook page. After just three weeks it already has 400,000 members.
"We're probably getting about 2000 new requests or posts every day being submitted through the page," says Sarah Colcord, the founder of the page.
Colcord is a small business owner herself and wanted to offer Kiwi shoppers who are looking to buy local a way of connecting with New Zealand businesses.
"Most of them are going through a really challenging time right now, and as we move through the different levels, it becomes even more challenging," she says.
Buy New Zealand Made CEO Ryan Jennings says he's seen a huge increase in companies looking to register for a Kiwi trademark.
"In the last week, we've seen six months worth of applications in a single week, so businesses want to pick up on that shift in consumer behaviour," he says.
With more than 1200 businesses currently licenced, Jennings is urging consumers to research what they buy and where it's manufactured.
"This is about keeping Kiwis in jobs, so we want to see that the substantial transformation of that product happens here," he says.
Colcord hopes reading about the Kiwis behind the companies in more than 170,000 different posts will help.
