NEW ZEALAND'S HIGH-GRADE HEMP SPECIALISTS, SINCE 1997.
Opened in 1997, The Hempstore is now the longest running hemp retail outlet in the world. We are also the home of NORML New Zealand Inc and we've supported cannabis law reform efforts since we were founded. The Hempstore is now on K Road and open 7 Days, with nationwide delivery, and click and collect. Our instore cafe serves DKD Espresso, Mushroom adaptogen teas, and a selection of hemp foods. Need a prescription for medicinal cannabis? Call us or visit to be connected to a doctor (and enjoy our Medication Zone).
Rooted in hemp
We back hemp for everyday living, from practical gear to natural wellness, with a focus on better materials, lower waste, and products that feel good to bring home.
Wellness with sense
We like products that fit real life, simple, useful, and thoughtfully chosen. Whether you’re curious or experienced, we keep things honest, grounded, and easy to understand.
People come first
The Hempstore Aotearoa is built around community. We’re here for good chats, practical help, and a welcoming space where people can explore hemp culture without pressure or judgment.
OUR KAUPAPA
We promote hemp for it's eco-friendly properties and wide variety of uses. We believe in your freedom of choice. We support drug law reform and harm reduction, and are against animal testing.
The Hemp Store Aotearoa was founded in late 1996 by Chris Fowlie, Nandor Tanczos and Mike Finlayson, all long-time cannabis law reform advocates.
We opened our first store early 1997 upstairs at 60 Queen St. In 2001 we moved downstairs in the same building. Around this time we also had a second store on Cuba Street in Wellington. Then in 2004 we moved to 29 Victoria Street East, next to Albert Park. In 2015 when we moved to our current location at 253 Karangahape Road.
We aim to provide premium quality hemp products to a wide range of customers, and spearhead an environmentally sustainable and economically sound hemp industry in New Zealand.
The focus of The Hemp Store is social ecology - a philosophy that states that how we treat people is intrinsically linked to how we treat the environment, and vice versa.
Social Ecology brings together concerns about global environmental degradation and questions of social justice and exploitation. The Hemp Store has been established to take concrete steps towards increasing the well-being of the planet and its people.
THE PLANET
The Hemp Store is committed to restoring ecological balance through reducing the unsustainable use of natural resources, through developing renewable alternatives, through developing environmentally and economically sustainable production and processing technologies, and through facilitating bioregional development in the Pacific region.
THE PEOPLE
The Hemp Store seeks to increase local and individual autonomy by increasing people's access to information and choices, by establishing and promoting co-operative work structures, by helping to regenerate rural economies, and by supporting the take of just causes.
SOCIAL ACTIVISM AND ETHICAL TRADING
Putting these words into action, The Hempstore has supported cannabis and hemp law reform efforts by hosting the offices for NORML, performing the admin work for NORML, offering legal help and support for victims of cannabis prohibition, organising Auckland J Day every year, and providing grants and sponsorship to drug law reform projects.
We focus on reducing harm to consumers and our products are intended to do this or we won't stock them. We lead the market and innovate with new products - we were the first to bring Vaporisers to New Zealand, the first to bring Grinders, the first to stock natural highs as an alternative to illicit party drugs, and the first to supply ecstasy testing kits and drug testing solutions.
We only use suppliers who are environmentally friendly and operate fair working practices and conditions. We reduce our use of packaging, reuse wherever possible, and recycle as much as we can. You may see some recycled office waste in your web orders. Our electricity supply is 100% renewable. We are 100% New Zealand owned and operated.
AWARDS
2021 Westpac Business Awards Finalist - Community Contribution
2012 Top Shop Awards Finalist - Sustainability
2010 Top Shop Awards 1st Runner Up - Specialty Store
2010 Top Shop Awards Runner Up - Sustainable Retailing
2008 Top Shop Awards Finalist - Specialty Store
MEMBERSHIPS
New Zealand Hemp Industries Association
Auckland Chamber of Commerce
K Road Business Association
THE FIRST NZ-GROWN CANNABIS PRODUCT
The first cannabis product to be licensed as "NZ Grown" was the Kiwicanna hemp range, made from hemp seeds grown in Canterbury, New Zealand. The Buy NZ Made licence issued to us in 2019 was number 806490. While others claim all sorts of so-called "firsts", we really are New Zealand's hemp originators. First to import herbal vapes (1998), first to import herb grinders (1999), first to supply substance checking reagents (1998), first to offer hemp foods and oils - the list goes on!