In an unusual post-Christmas trend, hundreds of unwanted gifts are flooding New Zealand’s online marketplace, Trade Me, with some items taking a bizarre turn. Among the 4,600 presents listed by 10am on Boxing Day were a used Epilady hair remover, car jumper leads, and even a ceramic unicorn pen holder, highlighting the wide array of gifts many are eager to part with after the festive season.
In a particularly quirky listing, a banana taped to a wall was being sold on Trade Me, with the seller describing it as a tribute to the infamous artwork Comedian by Italian artist Maurizio Cattelan. The work, which made headlines worldwide last month, gained attention when Chinese crypto mogul Justin Sun bought a certificate for US$6.2 million (NZ$11 million) at a New York auction, granting him the right to tape the banana to a wall. The fruit was later eaten by Sun during a press conference, further fueling the item’s viral fame.
This post-Christmas surge of unwanted gifts being sold online has become an annual tradition for many Kiwis. According to Trade Me, the marketplace is brimming with oddities this year, including a variety of oddball presents such as gym memberships, scales, and peculiar personal care items. Trade Me spokesperson Emma Bacon highlighted some of the more memorable “worst” gifts people had received, including gifts tied to personal hygiene, such as a soap on a rope for “pesky odours” and wrinkle creams.
In addition to these, there were reports of uncomfortably mismatched presents, including a Christmas ham for a vegan family, chocolates for diabetics, and petrol vouchers for someone without a car. One particularly strange gift involved a “fart in a jar,” which was no doubt more amusing than practical.
Trade Me also conducted a survey of more than 3,500 of its members to gauge attitudes toward gift-giving. The results revealed that while most respondents received between one and six presents, 5% reported being gifted more than 10. About half of those surveyed said they loved every gift they received, but 46% admitted that at least one or two items missed the mark.
Despite this, nearly three-quarters of respondents said they would pretend to like an unwanted gift, with only 4% openly expressing their disappointment. In terms of the most desirable presents, vouchers for travel, concerts, and massages topped the list, alongside practical items such as gadgets, fishing gear, and mountain bikes.
However, according to Bacon, the most cherished gifts were not material at all. Kiwis reported that time spent with loved ones, meals shared under the summer sun, and heartfelt cards from children were the most treasured gifts of all, highlighting the sentiment that the best presents are often those that money cannot buy.
