Are you looking gift some chocolate this Christmas, but don’t want people far-off to suffer so your friend can have a treat? Perhaps you’ve heard that around 20% of the chocolate on sale in New Zealand this Christmas will be made with cocoa produced by kids who are kept out of school to work? You don’t want to support that, but you’re still looking for something nice to give.
Fortunately, this year there are heaps of options that are certified free of both child and slave labour. We’ve gathered together all the ones we’ve spotted, but there are likely more. If you see anything that has one of the above marks on it, even if it’s not on our list, it’s fine.
(Click here for more information on the certifications referred to.)
Read right through to see all the options we’ve found or click on the table of contents to jump to the section you’re looking for.
- For further information on slave-free options check out our Christmas meal guide - it includes sections on drinks, snacks, desserts, baking ingredients and seafood.
Table of Contents
Christmas chocolates - Santas, tree decorations etc.
Santas and other Christmas figures
Kitkat is making 29g Rainforest Alliance certified Santas; these are available at The Warehouse and supermarkets for around $1-$1.30 each.
Milkybar has an 88g white chocolate reindeer made from Rainforest Alliance certified cocoa. Available at The Warehouse and supermarkets for around $5.50.
Some supermarkets and The Warehouse also have the After 8 Santa, made from Rainforest Alliance certified cocoa - 85g for around $7.
Kinder has a range of Christmas figurines, including the Kinder Surprise Santa (75g, $6-$7, available widely) and their 35g hollow Christmas figures (gingerbread man, penguin, snowman etc. - available widely for around $2.50-$3). Note that these don’t have any slave-free certification marks on them. Curious? Read why we consider them to be reliably slave free.
PakNSave, New World and Smith and Caugheys are selling the Windel Christmas clicker figurines (Snowman, Penguin, Santa or Reindeer, containing 200g chocolate candy) for $10-$15, Rainforest Alliance certified cocoa.
The Warehouse has hollow chocolate Santas from Waikato Valley Chocolates with Rainforest Alliance certification: a 150g milk chocolate Surf Santa and 100g Santas with both popping candy and dark chocolate mint - all $4.50 each.
The Warehouse has a Christmas teddy with mini chocolate Santas made by Waikato Valley Chocolates; 68g chocolate, $14. As with all their chocolate, it’s made with Rainforest Alliance certified cocoa.
Similarly Kmart has own-brand Santa and reindeer sets, made up of a plush toy and a set of 6.5g milk chocolate santas or reindeer for $5.50.
We’ve seen the NOMO cookie reindeer at The Warehouse and some supermarket. It’s a good choice for those with restricted diets, being free from gluten, dairy, eggs and nuts. Rainforest Alliance certified cocoa, $3-$4.50 for a 30g cookie.
Moo Free has two dairy-free Christmas figurines this year: a ‘milk’ Santa (32g, around $3) and a white bear (80g, around $14), both made with Rainforest Alliance certified cocoa. Look for them at organics and health food stores, or buy online from the The Vegan Shop.
Christmas tree decorations
Kinder has hanging figurines available with 3-6 of the 15g figurines in a pack. Available widely for around $1 per figurine. Ferrero Rocher stars (containing 3 Ferrero Rocher chocolates) are also widely available for around $4.50-$5. You won’t see any slave-free certification marks on these. Curious? Read why we consider them to be reliably slave free.
All Kmart’s own brand chocolate is Rainforest Alliance certified. That includes a 4-piece milk chocolate set made of four santas in a Christmas star you can hang on the tree; 32g total weight for $3.
Kmart has ’reindeer treats’ in a box you can hang on the tree. 8 pieces of chocolate (52g) for $2.50.
Gold coins
Kmart has 80g Rainforest Alliance-certified milk chocolate gold coins for $3.
Countdown and Fresh Choice also have Rainforest Alliance certified milk chocolate gold coins, $3 for 150g.
Christmas houses
We’ve seen the Smarties Christmas house (98g, Rainforest Alliance certified) at The Warehouse and various supermarkets. Kinder also has a Christmas house at many of the same shops - 76g for $6-$7. The Kinder house is uncertified but we consider all products from their parent company, Ferrero, to be made of slave-free cocoa and sugar.
Like Kinder, products from The Remarkable Chocolate Co don’t have certification marks on them. However, all Remarkable’s chocolate is Fairtrade certified so you can be sure they’re slave-free. This year they’re selling three Christmas houses: one filled with 120g dark chocolate scorched almonds, another with 120g milk chocolate scorched almonds and the luxury BIG house filled with 120g milk chocolate scorched almonds and 100g toasted coconut and raspberry bark. Buy online or at a range of luxury retailers across the North Island. Online the smaller houses are $12 and the larger $20.
Christmas music boxes
Windel has two Christmas music boxes, each with 100g of Rainforest Alliance certified chocolates. The Christmas tree we’ve seen at PakNSave, New World, Smith and Caugheys and Ballantynes ($30-$45); the carousel at PakNSave, New World and Smith and Caugheys only ($32-$45). Note that Smith and Caugheys and Ballantynes are both stocking many other Windel Christmas products - check for the green frog logo before buying any of these. We haven’t been able to check them in person, and not all the Windel range is Rainforest Alliance certified.
Chocolates
Whittakers
The vast majority of the Whittakers range is made with Rainforest Alliance certified cocoa. Their bags of 18 artisanal squares are a good choice for Christmas, as are their mini slabs, cocoa lovers selection and their cocoa pods. All widely available, for around $9-$13.
Guylian
All Guylian products are now made with Fairtrade cocoa (although note that they’re using the ‘white background’ version of the Fairtrade logo. That means that only the cocoa is Fairtrade, not other risky ingredients such as sugar.) As well as their classic seashell chocolates (65g for around $5; 250g for around $18), this Christmas they also have a Belgian Classics assortment (so far we’ve only seen this at PakNSave and New World - 305g for around $21) and a Christmas tree that we’ve seen at a number of supermarkets (96g for $11).
Ferrero Rocher and Kinder
Both Kinder and Ferrero Rocher have a range of chocolates widely available this Christmas. You won’t see any slave-free certification marks on these. Curious? Read why we consider them to be reliably slave free.
Nestle
Nestle After 8s (at The Warehouse and Countdown) are Rainforest Alliance certified; $8-$10 for a 300g box.
The Nestle Dairy Box is also at both Countdown and The Warehouse. Countdown has the 326g box for around $21 and the 162g one for $12; The Warehouse only has the 326g one but for $12. Rainforest Alliance certified cocoa.
Curious as to why we’re recommending Nestle products? Read more.
Quality Street
All the Quality Street boxes and tins are made with Rainforest Alliance certified cocoa. Available widely at supermarkets and The Warehouse.
Countdown has Quality Street ‘matchmakers’ branded mint sticks and zingy orange sticks, around $6 for a 120g box.
Countdown premium
Countdown has premium own brand cocoa dusted chocolate coated almonds, made with Rainforest Alliance certified cocoa; $4 for 150g.
Belgid’Or
New World and PakNSave are stocking Belgid’Or boxes of chocolates: 250g seashell chocolates for around $7 and 200g boxes of either salted caramel truffles or marc de champagne truffles for around $6. Rainforest Alliance certified.
Cupido
Countdown is stocking the Cupido range of chocolates. Note that we only recommend the orange sticks and mint sticks (each 125g for $6). These are Rainforest Alliance certified but the rest of the range is not. Ballantynes is also stocking Cupido Rainforest Alliance certified mint slices, $10 for 200g.
Waikato Valley Chocolates
Waikato Valley Chocolates have Christmas tins of scorched almonds, peanuts and raisins made with Rainforest Alliance certified cocoa; available in two designs, $22-$25 for a 500g tin, available exclusively at The Warehouse.
Waikato Valley Chocolates scorched almonds and fruit and nut are also made with Rainforest Alliance certified cocoa. They come in:
- milk chocolate scorched almonds
- dark chocolate scorched almonds
- white chocolate scorched almonds
- fruit and nut
Exclusive to The Warehouse; $4.50 for a 200g box. The milk chocolate ones also come in a 400g tub for $9.50; there’s also a 400g tub of milk, white and dark chocolate almonds for $7.50.
Lastly from Waikato Valley Chocolates there’s a 180g bag of chocolate coated coffee beans; $9; Rainforest Alliance certified cocoa.
Belgian
Belgian pralines and seashells, available at The Warehouse, are made with Rainforest Alliance certified cocoa. The pralines are 100g for $4; the seashells 250g for $5.50.
Delafaille
The Delafaille chocolates range, available at The Warehouse, is all made with Rainforest Alliance certified cocoa. The range includes seashells chocolates ($4 for 50g), a bottle of cocoa-dusted truffles ($12 for 350g) and boxed pralines ($6.50 for 100g and $12 for 200g).
The Warehouse own brand
The Warehouse has an own brand 80g tin of truffles, Rainforest Alliance certified, $4.50, various tin designs.
NOMO
Also at The Warehouse (as well as vegan and health food shops) are the NOMO boxed caramel filled chocolate drops. These are made with Rainforest Alliance certified cocoa, and are a good choice for people with restricted diets: they’re free from dairy, gluten, nuts and egg. $12 for 12 pieces.
Kmart own brand
Kmart own brand milk chocolate Christmas balls and milk chocolate truffles are both made with Rainforest Alliance certified cocoa. The balls are $6 for a 250g bag; the truffles are $3 for pack of 5.
Trade Aid
Trade Aid have four different boxes of gifting chocolate, all $9.49 a box: dark chocolate mint sticks, milk chocolate orange sticks, dark chocolate coated hazelnuts and milk chocolate coated cashews. The sticks are 160g and the nuts are 130g. As with all Trade Aid products, they’re certified fair trade through the World Fair Trade Organisation. Sold in home compostable packaging.
You can buy the whole Trade Aid range direct from either their shops or online, plus a number of supermarkets and health food shops stock their products.
Bennetto Natural Foods Co
Bennetto Natural Foods Co has recently released 8g truffle-filled dark chocolate squares. Look for them both individually and in boxes of 20 at health food shops or buy in bulk online ($90 for 120 squares). Available in mint, raspberry and passionfruit; all Fairtrade certified, organic and vegan.
The Remarkable Chocolate Co
The Remarkable Chocolate Co don’t display the Fairtrade mark on their products, but use Fairtrade certified chocolate in everything they make. Their collection includes organic scorched almonds ($12 for a 150g box) and a range of organic chocolate barks ($11 for 135g). Buy online (bark, scorched almonds) or from selected retailers including all Farros stores and some New World supermarkets.
Noshu
Noshu has recently released three flavours of chocolate balls: white chocolate raspberries, dark chocolate cherry and coconut and milk chocolate wafer crisp. As with all their products they’re formulated to be low sugar; these are also made with Rainforest Alliance certified cocoa (note that most Noshu chocolate products are not RA certified). We’ve only spotted them at Low Carb Haven but they may be available at other similar retailers.
Chocolate biscuit sampler boxes
Griffin’s
Griffin’s uses Rainforest Alliance certified cocoa for all their chocolate biscuits except cameo cremes; their sampler boxes all only include chocolate biscuits with Rainforest Alliance certified cocoa, although they don’t all display the logo. Widely available, priced between $12 and $23.
Lambertz
Most of the Lambertz biscuits for sale in New Zealand this year are made with Fairtrade cocoa, but check for the logo (clearly displayed on the front of the box) just in case - we have seen a few exceptions.
We have seen a 200g “compliments” assortment at Countdown PaKNSave for around $5 and a 500g “chocolate cookies” box at PakNSave for around $12.
Wicklein
Wicklein Lebkuchen are available at Ballantynes and Smith and Caugheys - around $15 for 200g, with either Fairtrade or RA certification. Note that Wicklein seems to sell products with Fairtrade certification, with Rainforest Alliance certification and with no certification at all. Before you buy any of their biscuits, check for either a Fairtrade or RA logo.
Chocolate blocks
Tonys Chocolonely
Tonys Chocolonely is one of a handful of brands that have brought out special chocolate blocks for Christmas. They are a Dutch company on a mission to make 100% slave free chocolate and they also have Fairtrade certification. For Christmas they’ve brought out a dark chocolate peppermint candy block and a milk chocolate gingerbread one, both of which have a Christmas tree shape in the block. Buy online or from health food shops, speciality shops and some supermarkets. Fairtrade certified, around $10 for a 180g block.
They also have the following 80g bars available year round:
- White Chocolate Raspberry Popping Candy
- Milk Chocolate Hazelnut
- Extra Dark Chocolate
- Dark Chocolate Almond Sea Salt
- Milk Chocolate Caramel Sea Salt
- Milk Chocolate
- Dark milk pretzel toffee
Order online or from selected supermarkets and specialist European grocers. Around $8 per block.
Whittakers
Whittakers has also brought out a special Christmas chocolate block: candy cane in milk chocolate, made with Rainforest Alliance certified cocoa. Available widely.
All Whittakers chocolate blocks except their Nicaraguan single-origin block are made with slave-free cocoa. Most are made with Rainforest-Alliance certified cocoa from Ghana; the remainder are made with Samoan cocoa, which is also slave-free. Their speciality blocks would make particularly nice Christmas gifts.
La Petite Artisan Chocolate
Lastly for Christmas blocks are the gingerbread spice milk and dark chocolate blocks from La Petite Artisan Chocolate, $13 for 70g. These don’t have any slave-free certification marks on them, but they are made with Fair For Life certified cocoa. This is a European certification that we rarely see in New Zealand, but we feel it is very similar to Fairtrade (read more) and consider it a reliable slave-free certification.
They also have a wide range of other flavours, including a number of award-winners; for $37 they’ll also pack your choice of three flavours in a linen gift bag, which would make a nice present.
Trade Aid
Trade Aid sells 100g blocks of delicious chocolate for $4.99. My favourites are dark raspberry and mint crisp, but other flavours include lemon crunch, passionfruit, salt toffee crisp, milk, dark and extra dark chocolate. The milk and dark varieties are also available as 200g blocks for $6.99. The wrappers are home-compostable and most flavours are vegan. The cocoa is grown by a co-op in the Dominican Republic which is a member of the World Fair Trade Organisation, and the sugar by farmers in Peru who are also WFTO members. Awesome all round!
You can buy the whole Trade Aid range direct from either their shops or online, plus a number of supermarkets and health food shops stock their products.
Bennetto Natural Foods Co
Bennetto Natural Foods make delicious vegan, organic chocolate. Most are made using Fairtrade cocoa and sugar, with the only exception being one made with Samoan cocoa. They do 100g bars in:
- amaranth and sea salt
- salted caramel in dark
- raspberries in dark
- toasted hazelnut
- mint and cacao nibs
- orange with chilli
- pistachios in dark (this is the Samoan cocoa one)
- coffee in Madagascar
- original dark (supporting Bird of the Year)
- intense dark
- exceptionally dark
Bennetto chocolate is available at organic and health food stores as well as many New World, Four Square and PakNSave supermarkets, where the 100g bars sell for around $8. You can also purchase their chocolate by the carton direct from Bennetto.
Belgian
The Warehouse has a gift set of three Belgian organic chocolate blocks (a mix of milk and dark). Fairtrade certified, $10 for 3x90g blocks.
Wellington Chocolate Factory
Wellington Chocolate Factory sources beans from around the world and crafts them into chocolate at their Wellington Factory. Many of their products are made with Fairtrade certified cocoa but not all - always look for the logo. You can buy their products in pre-set gifting bundles, design your own bundle, or buy them individually. Certified flavours include:
- original milk
- raspberry milk
- coffee milk
- blueberry milk
- coconut milk
- salted caramel
- milk salted caramel
Blocks are 75-85g for around $11. You can buy WCF chocolate direct from them either online or from the factory in Aro Valley; they are also stocked by high-end supermarkets and organics shops.
Stocking stuffers
Chocolate share packs
Chocolate sharebags can be a good option, either whole or spit up.
All the Nestle fun-packs (kitkats, smarties etc.) are made with Rainforest-Alliance certified cocoa* - available widely for around $4-$5.50 for 11 pieces. If you’re concerned about Nestle’s ethics, see here for why we are happy to recommend their products.
*check the back to make sure that’s true - there’s a chance you’ll find parallel imported ones that aren’t. You’re looking for either a Rainforest Alliance frog logo or a written statement saying that Nestle works with Rainforest Alliance.
Mars bars are also Rainforest Alliance certified, so their ‘fun size’ are also a good option - around $5-$6 for 12 pieces.
Whittakers does sharepacks in a wide range of flavours; there’s also a sharepack of ‘tweets’ - creamy milk chocolate moulded into the shapes of native birds. Rainforest Alliance certifed, around $6-$7 for 12 pieces.
Bagged chocolates
Small bags of chocolates seem to mostly be available at The Warehouse. They have Nestle’s “Love to Share” bags (aero, rolo, after 8 bites etc.) for around $5 and a wide range of Waikato Valley bagged chocolates (chocolate almonds, chocolate raisins, hokey pokey clusters etc.) for $4. All Rainforest Alliance certified.
Small chocolate blocks and bars
All varieties of KitKats should be Rainforest Alliance certified (check the back to be sure), as are Pixie Caramels, Chokito bars and Aero bars. Milky bars are cocoa free. Available widely.
Trade Aid sells 50g bars of both milk and dark chocolate for $2.49. As with all Trade Aid products, they are certified fair trade through the World Fair Trade Organisation. Buy online, from their physical shops or some health food shops.
Tonys Chocolonely has recently started selling mini blocks of both their milk chocolate and milk chocolate caramel sea salt flavours. Look for them at health food shops or buy in boxes of 35 online. Fairtrade certified.
Bennetto sells 30g mini blocks of their raspberries in dark. Around $3.50-$4 in a range of health food shops, or buy direct from the company at $63 for a box of 21. Fairtrade certified, vegan and organic.
The Remarkable Chocolate Co. has 32g bars for both dark and raspberry dark chocolate. Available online or from many health food shops for around $4. Fairtrade cocoa (although not displaying the logo), vegan and organic.
Hot chocolate
Kmart
Kmart own brand has a huge range of Christmas-themed hot chocolate this year, including:
- Hot Chocolate Mug Set with Lid and Spoon - Assorted, $12
- Hot Chocolate Station Kit, $14
- Hot Cocoa Bauble Set, $12
- Hot Cocoa Christmas Stocking Set 42g - Assorted, $8
- Milk Chocolate Cocoa Bomb with Marshmallows Gift Set - Assorted, $10
These are all made with Rainforest Alliance certified cocoa.
Ma Baker
Ma Baker has a chocolate bomb filled with marshmallows - dissolve in hot milk to make hot chocolate. We’ve seen this at Countdown for $4.50; 35g, Rainforest Alliance certified cocoa.
Cacao husk tea
Not quite hot chocolate, but Samāori is selling cacao husk tea made from Samoan cocoa husks. Samoan cocoa is always slave-free so it doesn’t need a certification. A delicious low-calories alternative to hot chocolate! Buy from their website, $14.50 for 60g. They also sell a range of other Samoan cocoa products.
La Petite
La Petite artisan chocolate has a Christmassy gingerbread spice drinking chocolate; $16.50 for 200g. They also sell a range of other drinking chocolate mixes.
La Petite’s products don’t have any slave-free certification marks on them but they are made with Fair For Life certified cocoa. This is a European certification that we rarely see in New Zealand, but we feel it is very similar to Fairtrade (read more) and consider it a reliable slave-free certification.
Other
In addition, Just Kai’s cocoa list has a great many hot chocolate options. The ones most suitable for gifting are:
- West Coast Cocoa (Rainforest Alliance-certified). Buy directly from them online or from many whole food retailers. They are $3.99 for 50g, $13.50 for 250g, $49.95 for 2kg and come in dark, dark deluxe, peppermint, caramel and mayan chilli.
- Trade Aid drinking chocolate (WFTO certified): buy from their own shops, online or from health food shops and some supermarkets. $6.49 for 300g, $26.49 for 2kg or $58.99 for 5kg.
- Kokako drinking chocolate (Fairtrade certified) is available online or from health food shops; $9.50 for 250g or $48 for 2kg.
- Bennettos drinking chocolate (Fairtrade certified) comes in dark and dark superfood, 250g for around $12-$15. Look for them at health food shops.
- Wellington Chocolate Factory sells Fairtrade certified hot chocolate online or through many higher-end retailers. $12.50 for a 250g bag - organic, vegan and in home-compostable packaging.
- Devonport Chocolates (Fairtrade certified) hot chocolate mixes can be purchased online or from their stores in Devonport and Queens Arcade in Auckland, or through many higher-end retailers. $14.50 for a 250g tin. It comes in ’classic’, ’dark’ and ’spiced‘.
Other
Toiletries and cosmetics with cocoa butter
Not exactly chocolate, but toiletries and cosmetics often contain cocoa butter or other cocoa products.
LUSH make a wide range of toiletries and cosmetics which are all handmade. Many of them are packaging free or come in re-fillable packaging; all their products are vegetarian and many are vegan. Their 2023 Christmas range includes limited edition bath bombs, shower products, gift sets and more.
LUSH sources Fairtrade certified cocoa beans from the Peace Community of San José de Apartadó (in northwestern Colombia) and processes this themselves in to cocoa butter, powder and cocoa absolute. They also use many other Fairtrade certified ingredients.
Find your nearest LUSH store here.
Kmart food preparation kits
Kmart has a wide range of own brand food preparation kits available this Christmas. All of those that use cocoa use Rainforest Alliance certified cocoa EXCEPT for those which tie-in with other branded products such as toblerone. For those, we’re only recommending the ones where the brand they tie in with is typically also made with slave free cocoa. Recommended products are:
- Cast Iron Skillet Baking Kit ($12) - Nutella pancake mix and Smarties brownie mix only.
- Oh Yes… A Poppin Evening Set ($14)
- Mug Cake Baking Kit ($12) - all
- Milkshake Gift Set ($12) - all