NZ Seed Suppliers — Where to Buy Vegetable Seeds Online
Published June 27, 2026
Buying vegetable seeds in NZ is more complicated than it looks. The large suppliers have different strengths. A few excellent small suppliers fly under the radar. And some seeds you'll see at garden centres are poor quality or unsuited to NZ conditions.
This is a practical breakdown of where to actually buy, based on what you're looking for.
A Note on Buying in NZ vs. Importing
NZ biosecurity restrictions mean you cannot legally import seeds from overseas without a permit. This rules out buying from UK, US, or Australian suppliers for most home gardeners (Australian seeds can sometimes be imported under specific conditions, but it's not straightforward).
This is actually fine: NZ seed suppliers have improved significantly in the last decade and the main gaps (heritage varieties, unusual cultivars) are increasingly being filled by specialist local suppliers. Work with what's here.
The Main Suppliers
Kings Seeds
Best for: General range, reliable varieties, good germination rates, reasonable prices
Kings Seeds is the backbone of NZ vegetable seed buying. Based in Katikati, family-owned, and with a track record going back decades. Their range covers all the staples with enough variety choice to keep experienced gardeners interested. Germination rates are consistently good.
Strengths: Wide range, good prices on bulk packs, responsive customer service, fast shipping, well-organised website. Their catalogue notes NZ-specific planting advice which is more useful than generic seed packet instructions.
Weaknesses: Not the place for rare heritage varieties or unusual cultivars. The range is deliberately mainstream.
Online: kingsseeds.co.nz
Yates NZ
Best for: Beginners, garden centre availability, brand recognition
Yates is the largest presence in NZ garden centres. Their seed range is reliable for basics — tomatoes, beans, courgettes, salad greens. For straightforward varieties where you just need a packet of something known to work, Yates is fine.
Strengths: Ubiquitous — available in most garden centres and hardware stores. Good beginner-friendly information on packets. Online ordering available.
Weaknesses: The range is narrower than Kings and focuses on mainstream commercial varieties. Not the first choice if you want cultivar-specific selection or NZ-adapted varieties.
Online: yates.co.nz
Koanga Institute
Best for: Heritage seeds, traditional NZ varieties, open-pollinated seed saving
Koanga is the most important NZ heritage seed supplier. They maintain hundreds of varieties — many of which are not available anywhere else in the country — and their work preserving traditional Māori kai (food) varieties is significant. If you want to grow 'Pukekohe Long Keeper' onions, heritage tomatoes, traditional kūmara varieties, or rare brassica types, Koanga is the place.
Strengths: Unique varieties you genuinely can't get elsewhere. All open-pollinated (you can save seed). Strong kaupapa around food sovereignty and biodiversity. Their team is knowledgeable.
Weaknesses: Limited stock on popular varieties — some sell out early. Order in autumn for the following spring season. Slower to ship than mainstream suppliers. Website is less polished.
Timing tip: Popular Koanga varieties can sell out by August for the spring season. Order in April–June if you have specific varieties in mind.
Online: koanga.org.nz
Egmont Seeds
Best for: Commercial-scale quantities, professional vegetable growers, bulk buying
Egmont is a professional-grade seed supplier that's increasingly accessible to home gardeners. They stock varieties not available in mainstream NZ retail — including F1 hybrids used by commercial growers, and some unusual cultivars.
Strengths: Excellent for anyone who wants what commercial growers use. Often better cultivar notes than mainstream suppliers. Good range of brassicas and salad greens.
Weaknesses: The website and buying experience isn't as consumer-friendly as Kings or Yates. Minimum quantities can be larger than a home gardener needs.
Online: egmontseeds.co.nz
Mr Fothergill's NZ
Best for: Broader variety range, some UK varieties adapted to NZ, novelty and specialty seeds
Mr Fothergill's is an Australian/NZ brand with a broader range than Yates and some cultivars not available from other NZ suppliers. Their flower seed range is strong. On the vegetable side, they're a reasonable second choice if Kings doesn't have what you're after.
Strengths: Available in many NZ garden centres. Some useful UK-origin varieties that perform well in NZ cool/mountain zones.
Weaknesses: Quality can be more variable than Kings. Some varieties in their range are better suited to Australian conditions than NZ.
Online: Available through various NZ retailers; direct at mrfothergills.co.nz
Trade Me (Garden Section)
Best for: Small quantities of specific varieties, heritage and unusual seeds, seeds from NZ gardeners
Trade Me's garden section is often overlooked but contains genuinely useful options: NZ gardeners selling surplus seed from their own harvests, small specialist suppliers, and unusual varieties that don't appear in mainstream catalogues.
What to know: Quality and germination vary by seller. Check feedback ratings carefully. Heritage seeds from good gardeners can be excellent — you're getting seed from plants actually grown in NZ conditions.
Best uses: Finding a specific heritage variety, buying a small quantity of something you want to try before committing to a full packet, sourcing garlic or seed potatoes from local growers.
Online: trademe.co.nz/garden
Garden centres (Oderings, Mitre 10, PlaceMakers, Bunnings)
Best for: Immediate availability, seedlings rather than seeds, basic varieties
For gardeners who don't plan ahead or want seedlings rather than seeds, local garden centres provide a useful service. Oderings (South Island) has a good reputation and knowledgeable staff. Mitre 10 and Bunnings stock Yates and sometimes Kings seeds alongside their own-brand seedlings.
Limitation: Garden centre seed stock is heavily weighted to Yates. If you want variety choice, order online from Kings or Koanga.
Buying Strategy by Gardener Type
If you're just starting out: Kings Seeds or Yates, garden centre seedlings for your first season while you learn timing.
If you want better variety choice: Kings Seeds as your main supplier, supplement with Egmont for brassicas and salad greens.
If heritage varieties matter to you: Koanga Institute is non-negotiable. Order early in the season — April for spring sowing.
If you grow garlic: Check Koanga and Trade Me for named NZ varieties. Supermarket garlic is not suitable as seed garlic.
For seed potatoes: Confirmed NZ suppliers only — Egmont, Kings (seasonal), or specialist growers on Trade Me. Don't plant supermarket potatoes.
What to Check Before Ordering
Packaging date: Seeds have a limited viable life. Reputable suppliers clearly date their packets. For home gardeners buying annual vegetable seeds, current season is best — prior season is often still viable, but germination rates decline.
F1 hybrid vs. open-pollinated: F1 hybrids are bred for consistency and often better disease resistance, but you can't save seed reliably (offspring revert to parent lines). Open-pollinated varieties breed true from saved seed. Neither is better; your choice depends on whether you want to save seed.
NZ-specific planting advice: Seed packets and websites that give planting advice for NZ conditions (rather than generic northern hemisphere advice) are more useful. Kings Seeds does this well.
Once you've chosen your seeds, knowing when to sow them matters. Check your zone's planting calendar →