Frances Nation Shop
Monday9:00 am – 5:00 pm.
Tuesday9:00 am – 5:00 pm.
Wednesday9:00 am – 5:00 pm.
Thursday9:00 am – 5:00 pm.
Friday9:00 am – 5:00 pm.
Saturday9:00 am – 5:00 pm.
Sunday9:00 am – 5:00 pm.
An iconic Ōtautahi homewares and gift store showcasing Aoetaroa-made products, Frances Nation is a go-to for both visitors and locals alike. The spacious, light-filled store is located on the ground floor of the refurbished Te Matatiki Toi Ora Arts Centre, which has been its home from the very beginning.
Owner-operator Tessa Peach has a passion for uplifting local makers and celebrating quality craftsmanship. Back in 2017, she travelled across the country in order to discover products that were still being made right here in New Zealand. The knowledge of where products come from, how they are made and who makes them is at the heart of it all. For Frances Nation, to this day, Tessa hand-picks items that are made to the highest level of craftsmanship and, thus, are timeless, beautiful and functional.
From its humble beginnings of occupying a small space upstairs from the store’s current position, Frances Nation has grown into a thriving, small-scale department store. There is everything here from your high-quality pantry needs to skin care products and perfumes; jewellery to hand-thrown everyday ceramics, non-fiction literature to gardening tools; hand-crafted knives to merino and possum beanies. Frances Nation also collaborates with a few of the makers it represents to offer exclusive products only available right here.
Whether you’re after something for yourself, a present for a deserving pal or just in the mood for some eye candy, Frances Nation won’t disappoint. In fact, if you manage to walk out of this stunning store without a purchase, you’ve got more self-control than most of us.
Words by Petra Nyman & Photography by Nancy Zhou
Information not correct? Report an error
Location
The Arts Centre Level 1/28 Worcester Blvd, Christchurch Central City, Christchurch
Nearby Places
Scorpio Books
The city's best independent bookshop; come here for the latest and greatest novels and non-fiction.
Austin Club
If you like your bars secret, check out Austin Club tucked in a basement, down an alleyway. Oh, and you'll need the password, too.
OGB
A speakeasy-style bar, OGB serves up an old-school approach to hospitality.
Inati
Prepare to be wowed by the thoughtful and beautifully executed Inati.
Similar Places
The Welder
The Welder is a unique health and wellbeing centre in stunningly repurposed buildings in the heart of South Town.
Akaroa Butchery, Deli & Pantry
Akaroa Butchery, Deli + Pantry is a feature on the seaside village’s main road of Rue Lavaud.
Sophie Divett Jewellery
Stepping into Sophie Divett Jewellery on Christchurch’s Colombo Street is like entering a jewellery store of a bygone era.
Nifty
Driving along the industrial end of Christchurch's Cashel Street, you don’t expect to come across a pale pink pop of colour that is the Nifty building.
Featured in
Fill your Christmas Table with Christchurch’s Best
If the thought of planning your Christmas Day menu sends you into a more frazzled than festive state, we’re here to let you know that you needn’t go it alone. We’ve rounded up Christchurch’s very best grocers, florists, bakers, butchers and more to help you spend less time in the kitchen and more time at the table.
Featured in
West End
With landmarks like the Arts Centre and the historic Canterbury Museum, there's plenty to love about Christchurch's West End. Walk down from The Terrace towards the beautiful Christchurch Botanic Gardens and you'll see what all the fuss is about. From the tram tracks to the collective of cultural hotspots, this is a neighbourhood that is quintessentially Canterbury. As the central city has been rebuilt after the 2011 earthquakes, there's been plenty invested in West End - from the building restorations to swanky new office blocks. Dive into the restaurants and cafes tucked into ground floor haunts, and while away a morning exploring.
