ニュージーランドでぜひ体験したいのが、地元の暮らしが垣間見えるスーパーマーケットでのお買い物。海外に来たことを実感できる大型店が多く、扱われている商品も日本とは異なるラインナップで新鮮。大きなカートを押しながら陳列棚を眺めているだけでもワクワクします。
ニュージーランドの主なスーパーチェーンは、カウントダウン、ニューワールド、パックンセーブなど。オークランド中心部に滞在しているなら、24時間営業で館内にカフェもあるブリトマート地区のカウントダウン･オークランドシティ店がおすすめです。いったいどんなスーパーなのか、その特徴をご紹介しましょう。
館内に入ってまず目に入るのが野菜や果物のコーナー。ニュージーランドでは日本のようにキレイにパック詰めはされておらず、山積みにされた野菜や果物を自分たちでほしい分量だけ買う量り売りシステムが主流です。少量でも購入できるので、キッチン付きの宿泊施設を利用している場合は材料を調達して自炊してみるのもいいでしょう。白いニンジンのようなパースニップやサツマイモの一種クマラ、ポリネシア人の主食であるタロイモなど日本ではあまり見かけない食材もあります。
肉類をお求めならイチオシはニュージーランドらしいラム。ニュージーランド産のラムは臭みがなく、苦手意識を持っていた人でもおいしく食べられるのでぜひトライしてみてください。
ほかにグリーンマッスル（ムール貝）や脂ののったサーモン、身がぷりぷりの牡蠣もおすすめです。
アルコール売り場も充実しています。特にビールやワインは圧巻の品揃え。酪農国だけに乳製品のレベルも高く、種類豊富なチーズはお酒のおつまみに最適。食後のデザートには濃厚なアイスクリームがピッタリです。
食品売り場以外にチェックしたいのが日用品のセクション。食器洗いブラシやシリコン製鍋つかみなど思わず試してみたくなる実用的な生活雑貨が並んでいます。シャンプー、ソープといったヘア＆ボディケアアイテム、洗剤、柔軟材なども物色してみましょう。
New World
New World is a New Zealand full-service supermarket chain. Each store is independently owned, operated and is part of one of 2 Foodstuffs’ co-operatives (Foodstuff North Island and Foodstuffs South Island). Other members of the Foodstuffs Co-operatives which are also independently owned and operated include Pak'nSave andFour Square stores.
Founded in 1963, New World was the first American-style full-service supermarket brand of Foodstuffs, and the second in New Zealand (after Foodtown). As of October 2012, there is a total of 138 New World supermarkets across the North and South Islands of New Zealand. New World has been a member of the Fly Buysprogram since that program started in September 1996.
In early 2003 New World helped introduce Superbank, a completely electronic banking network aimed at saving customers money. While New World Supermarkets had much advertising for the service in their stores, Superbank didn't have any physical services inside the store. In August 2006 it was announced that after heavy losses Superbank would be shut down and have its portfolio sold to GE Money.
Countdown
Countdown is a New Zealand full-service supermarket chain and subsidiary of Progressive Enterprises, itself a subsidiary of Australia's Woolworths Limited. It is the largest single supermarket chain in New Zealand in terms of number of stores, though the Four Square chain owned by co-operative rival Foodstuffs - with operations mainly as grocery stores or smaller supermarkets in rural communities - is larger, with 275 franchised shops.
Pak'nSave
Pak'nSave (stylised PAK'nSAVE, originally PAK 'N SAVE) is a New Zealand discount food warehouse chain owned by the Foodstuffs cooperative.
Founded in 1985, Pak'nSave was the last of the three major New Zealand supermarket chains (the other two are Countdown and New World) to be founded. As of November 2015, there are 53 Pak'nSave stores operating across the North and South Islands of New Zealand.
Pak'nSave's key policy is to provide everyday food and groceries at low prices, which they state in their current slogan (as of March 2013) ‘Our Policy: NZ’s Lowest Food Prices‘. Stores are large and have a no-frills environment, often with unlined interiors and concrete floors. Customers are left to pack their own bags, and charged for plastic bags in most stores. Many stores offer boxes set on or under a large desk where customers can pack their groceries for easier convenience. Pak'nSave is still the cheapest supermarket in New Zealand.
