New Zealanders will be able to buy warm clothes as the country heads into winter.
The Warehouse announced on Tuesday it had been given permission to sell selected essential items online or over the phone through its The Warehouse and Noel Leeming brands as winter approaches.
A large range of clothing is labelled essential on the site, including children’s pyjamas, women’s denim jackets, jeans and baseball caps.
The baseball caps were later removed from the list of available items.
RNZ
People caught short with undelivered or broken appliances are relieved they can now order some essential goods online or by phone.
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On March 30 the Government clarified the rules around essential goods, enabling approved retailers to sell a limited range of goods like hygiene products, health and beauty items, baby supplies, homewares including bedding and blankets, heating, engine oil and batteries.
The Warehouse spokeswoman Tanya Henderson said the Government-approved list of essential items included basic winter items.
One Stuff reader, who asked to remain anonymous, asked if the company could justify selling jeans, jackets and “new arrivals,” “or are they deliberately pushing the boundaries?”.
But an Auckland mother, Dee Crooks, was relieved.
“With two small children, eight and four, who have outgrown the majority of their winter clothes from last year, I was pleased to see yesterday’s announcement that The Warehouse will now be selling winter essentials online, which looks to include winter clothing too.
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The Warehouse has received the green light to sell some items online while the country is under lockdown.
“I was quite concerned as to how I would be able to keep them warm over the coming weeks as the weather continues to get cooler.”
Briscoe Group has also been allowed to sell homeware essentials but its Rebel Sport website was closed for clothing sales. Bed Bath and Beyond is also selling “winter essentials”.
Catalogue clothing firm Ezibuy was criticised earlier this week for continuing to sell and ship goods from Australia to New Zealand despite its New Zealand distribution centre and stores being closed.
MBIE has encouraged people to “dob in” cases where they believed non-essential items are being sold, so couriers and freight services were not being diverted from essential deliveries.
“Purchasing retail products online from overseas, such as clothing, will impact the flow of essential goods throughout New Zealand.”
Couriers can also refuse to deliver items they believe are non-essential.
People could report suspected breaches of the essential services rules to the police online at 105.police.govt.nz
