Selling online in New Zealand: Top marketplaces
Last updated: 5 March 2025
Discover New Zealand’s top online marketplaces and learn how to navigate fees, platforms, and regulations to grow your business.
Key takeaways
- Trade Me dominates New Zealand’s online marketplace scene, offering trusted local connections and a vast user base
- Amazon and eBay provide global reach, but understanding their complex fee structures is crucial for profitability
- Etsy shines for unique, handmade, or vintage products, catering to a niche audience that values craftsmanship
- Kogan is great for price-conscious buyers, with seller-friendly models focused on low-risk expansion
- Success in New Zealand’s online market requires GST compliance, product standards adherence, and tailored marketing
New Zealand is the 48th market globally for e-commerce sales with its market set to reach US $10,121.8 million by 2027. Over 64% of online shoppers in NZ search online whenever planning a major purchase
This surge presents an opportunity to sell online. And what better place to do that than online marketplaces where domestic customers are already looking to buy products?
In this article, we’ll explore these top marketplaces in New Zealand, detailing their features, fees, and benefits to help you choose the best platforms for your online selling needs.
Table of Contents
Top marketplaces in New Zealand
Here are the top marketplaces in New Zealand:
Trade Me
Trade Me is one of New Zealand’s largest online marketplace, boasting over 5 million registered members. It’s a go-to platform for New Zealanders buying and selling a wide range of items, from electronics to home goods. For casual sellers, Trade Me charges a success fee of 7.9% on the sale price for items over $1, with a maximum fee of $499. In-trade sellers (businesses) have tiered success fees ranging from 5.9% to 11.9%, depending on the category.
Why choose Trade Me: It’s a trusted platform with a substantial local user base, making it ideal for businesses targeting New Zealand customers.
→ Take a look at our online seller’s guide on how to sell on Trade Me NZ
Amazon
Amazon, a global e-commerce giant, has extended its services to New Zealand, allowing local businesses to tap into an international customer base. Sellers can choose between two plans: the Individual plan, which charges a per-item fee ($0.99), and the Professional plan, which has a monthly subscription fee ($39.99). This pricing is from Amazon US as Amazon does not have a regional website for New Zealand.
Why choose Amazon: Access to a vast global audience and advanced fulfillment services like FBA can streamline logistics. However, the fee structure is complex, and competition is fierce, so it’s essential to evaluate whether your products can stand out.
→ Take a look at our online seller’s guide on how to sell on Amazon NZ
eBay
eBay is a well-known global marketplace connecting New Zealand sellers with local and international buyers with a multi-currency account. New Zealand sellers often list on eBay, with the platform offering zero insertion fee listings up to a monthly limit—250 free listings on eBay.
Beyond this limit, insertion fees apply and vary by category. The fee is a percentage of the total sale amount, plus a per-order charge—$0.30 for orders $10.00 or less, and $0.40 for orders over $10.00. The total sale includes the item price, handling charges, shipping costs (with exceptions), sales tax, and other applicable fees. Sellers shipping internationally from New Zealand also pay a 1% international fee on the sale amount.
Why choose eBay: eBay’s global reach and trusted reputation make it a strong option for New Zealand businesses looking to scale.
Etsy
Etsy is a global marketplace connecting artisans and crafters with buyers seeking unique, handmade, vintage, and craft supply items. For New Zealand sellers, the fee structure is as follows:
Listing Fee: NZD 0.36 per item, equivalent to USD 0.20, with listings active for four months or until the item sells.
Transaction Fee: 6.5% of the total sale amount, including the item price and shipping costs.
- Domestic Orders: 3% + NZD 0.30 per transaction.
- International Orders: 4% + NZD 0.30 per transaction.
Why choose Etsy: If your products are handmade or vintage, Etsy’s niche audience is more likely to appreciate and purchase them.
Kogan
Kogan Marketplace is an Australian online retail platform that extends its services to New Zealand, offering a wide range of products, from electronics to home goods, and providing sellers with access to a large, price-conscious customer base
Kogan doesn’t charge sellers for signing up or listing products; fees are incurred only when a customer places an order. Key points include:
- Payment processing fee: 20 cents + 1.39% (non-refundable) per order, applicable across all payment methods, including Visa, MasterCard, PayPal, Afterpay, and Apple Pay
- GST on sales: 10% GST applies to all products, included in the final sale price. Sellers receive payments minus GST and commissions
- International sellers: For products shipped from outside Australia, 10% GST applies to sales under AUD 10,000. GST collected must be remitted directly to the Australian Taxation Office, so pricing should factor in this cost
- Seller payments: Sellers are paid weekly, receiving the sale price minus fees, commissions, and GST
Why choose Kogan: Kogan’s model ensures you only pay fees after making a sale, making it a low-risk platform for expanding your business
- Open 15+ local currency accounts and get paid like a local
- Pay suppliers, partners and staff worldwide in 100+ currencies
- Collect payments for free from 130+ marketplaces and payment gateways, including Amazon, Etsy, PayPal and Shopify
- Save with competitive exchange rates on currency conversions and transfers
- Lock in exchange rates for up to 24 months for cash flow certainty
Things to know before selling in New Zealand
It’s important to understand the local requirements and market nuances to succeed when selling in NZ. Here are the key points to consider:
Goods and services tax (GST)
New Zealand applies a 15% GST to most goods and services. Businesses selling in New Zealand must open a business account and register for GST if their turnover exceeds $60,000 NZD annually. For online sellers, this includes sales made to New Zealand consumers.
Customs duties and import regulations
Imported goods may be subject to customs duties and taxes depending on the item’s value and category. Familiarize yourself with New Zealand’s import requirements and ensure all shipments comply with documentation and labelling standards.
Product compliance and standards
Products sold in New Zealand must meet specific safety, quality, and environmental standards. For example, electronics may require compliance with electrical safety and emissions standards. Check with relevant authorities to ensure your products adhere to local regulations.
Consumer preferences
New Zealanders value high-quality goods and are increasingly drawn to sustainable, eco-friendly, and ethically produced items. Highlight these features to appeal to the local market. If you’re selling through marketplaces like Amazon or eBay, tailor your product descriptions to emphasize these values to attract more buyers. Comparing business accounts can also help you manage marketplace transactions efficiently.
Shipping and logistics
New Zealand’s location means shipping can take longer compared to domestic sales. Offer transparent delivery timelines and consider local fulfilment partners to improve customer experience. For businesses selling on Amazon or selling on eBay, using reliable shipping options and clear communication about delivery times is crucial for maintaining customer satisfaction.
Legal and advertising requirements
Ensure your business complies with New Zealand’s Fair Trading Act, which governs advertising, product claims, and consumer rights. Misleading or false claims can result in penalties. When working with marketplaces like Amazon or eBay, ensure product listings meet these legal standards, as violations can affect your selling privileges. If you’re setting up a Shopify store, make sure product descriptions and advertisements align with these legal requirements. Additionally, choosing reputable payment providers can help ensure secure and compliant transactions for your customers.
Fast, reliable, and secure marketplace collections with WorldFirst
WorldFirst’s multi-currency account supports 20 currencies including USD, EUR, CAD, GBP.
So, if you want to list your products in NZD, you can get details for your NZD bank account from World First and connect it to your seller account – all without needing a local address.
With the World Account, you can hold multi-currency funds, make conversions at competitive exchange rates, remit to your bank account, or pay your third-party suppliers abroad.
Disclaimer: The information contained is general only and largely our views. Before acting on the information you should consider whether it is appropriate for you, in light of your objectives, financial situation or needs. Although information has been obtained from and is based upon multiple sources the author believes to be reliable, we do not guarantee its accuracy and it may be incomplete or condensed. All opinions, estimates, mentioned products/services and referenced material constitute the author’s own judgement as of the date of the briefing and are subject to change without notice. WorldFirst shall not be responsible for any losses or damages arising from your reliance of such information.
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