You've drawn a name, the limit is $20, and the office Secret Santa is next week. Here are gifts people in New Zealand actually use, including one that gets the whole room going on Christmas Day.
The short answer: the best Secret Santa gifts under $20 are things people use straight away: something tasty, something for a summer Christmas, or a game the group can play together. Our party game Kiwi Code works out at $19.98 per game in the 4-pack ($79.90 for four), so one order covers several Secret Santas.
Quick picks under $20
Short on time? Every idea here fits a $20 Secret Santa, and most of them work for a colleague you barely know. Some people call the same draw a Kris Kringle. The rules are the same.
- Kiwi Code party game ($19.98 each in a 4-pack): opened and played on the day, by the whole group.
- A block of good chocolate: the safest gift in the room.
- Pineapple Lumps or a bag of lollies: small, very Kiwi, and gone by Boxing Day.
- Coffee beans: a safe bet for the office, especially from a local roaster.
- A hot sauce or relish: useful, and a bit more interesting than another mug.
- Sunscreen: Christmas here is summer. A decent bottle actually gets used.
- A nice notebook: looks like more than it cost.
- Novelty socks: a classic, and they fit any name out of the hat.
Kiwi Code: 4 gifts at $19.98 each
A lot of $20 gifts get a polite "oh, cheers" and then sit in a drawer. A game gets opened while everyone is still together, which is the point of a Secret Santa.
Kiwi Code plays with 2 to 20+ people, takes about 30 minutes, and there's nothing to set up. Grab a card, start the timer and go.
How it works: the reader says a "coded" phrase out loud, like "Cheese haul eighty", and keeps repeating the whole phrase until it clicks. Everyone else can see the real answer. The reader is the last to realise they've just said "She's a lady!"
The maths: one game is $39.95, which is over a $20 limit on its own. The 4-pack is four games for $79.90. That's $19.98 per game, just under the cap.
- What's in the 4-pack: the Kiwi Code 4-pack is one each of Original, Everything Kiwi, Family (from 8 years) and Naughty (18+).
- Rather pick your own four? Add any four games from the Kiwi Code page and Buy 2 Get 2 Free applies in the cart.
- One order, several draws: work, whānau, mates, and one for your own Christmas Day. Or split the pack with three friends.
Which edition for which swap?
- Work: Original (16+), Everything Kiwi (16+) or Music (16+).
- Whānau with kids: Family, made for ages 8 and up.
- Mates, adults only: Naughty (18+). Not one for the office.
Different budget? A single Kiwi Code is $39.95, which suits a $40 limit. The Complete Kiwi Code Set is all five editions for $169.95, which is $33.99 each.
Shop the 4-pack: 4 Secret Santa gifts for $79.90 →
More Secret Santa ideas under $20
A good one is useful, edible, or gets a laugh. For a Kiwi Christmas, that usually means food, sun, or something you can play at the table or the bach.
- Edible: chocolate, Pineapple Lumps, coffee beans, or a small hot sauce. Check for allergies if you don't know the person well.
- Summer: sunscreen, a cheeky can cooler, or a simple card game for the beach or the bach. Christmas lunch here is often outside.
- For the desk: a notebook, a low-maintenance plant, or a phone stand.
- Funny but useful: novelty socks, or a mug they'd actually drink from on Monday.
- For the group: a party game like Kiwi Code, so the gift belongs to the table, not just one person.
Under $10? Chocolate, lollies, coffee or tea, a notebook or fun socks. Kiwi Code doesn't fit a $10 limit. At $19.98 per game, it fits a $20 one.
Secret Santa rules
Everyone draws one name and buys one gift inside the budget. Secret Santa is what most New Zealand offices and families call it. Kris Kringle is the same draw under another name.
- Stick to the budget. Going well over makes everyone else feel awkward.
- Keep work gifts workplace-friendly. Save the cheeky stuff for mates.
- Not sure? Stay neutral. Food, games and desk bits are hard to get wrong.
- Add a gift receipt. Handy if they'd rather swap.
- A steal round is optional. Some groups let people swap for a gift that's already been opened. Games tend to get pinched.
Order in time for Christmas
- Same-day dispatch: orders placed before 2 PM NZT ship the same business day. After 2 PM, or on a weekend or public holiday, they go the next business day. We ship within New Zealand only, from Auckland.
- Free shipping over $60: standard shipping is $7.95, or free on orders over $60, with an estimated 1 to 4 business days nationwide. The 4-pack qualifies. See our shipping policy.
- Auckland same-day express: order before 10:00 AM NZ time on a business day, $11.11.
- Afterpay: available at checkout, alongside Shop Pay, Apple Pay, Google Pay and major cards.
- 100-day returns: on Kiwi Code games, including the 4-pack and items bought on sale. The game needs to come back unopened, plastic still on, in its original packaging. Gift cards, and 4-pack orders that also used a discount code, can't be returned. Email support@kiwigames.co.nz to start a return. If it's accepted, we'll send a return label. See our refund policy.
Order-by dates for free shipping before Christmas: these are our recommended cut-offs, before 2:00 PM NZ time. They're based on our couriers' Christmas cut-offs and aren't a guarantee. Express dates are on our shipping policy.
- Auckland and the North Island: Friday 18 December
- South Island: Thursday 17 December
- Rural addresses: Tuesday 15 December
- Chatham Islands (all options): Thursday 10 December
Ordering after these dates can still arrive in time, but we can't guarantee it. Buying for a whole team? See wholesale and B2B enquiries.
Posting a gift yourself, rather than ordering from us? NZ Post's 2026 sending dates recommend you send within New Zealand by Thursday 17 December for domestic mail, Friday 18 December for Courier Economy, Tuesday 22 December for overnight courier, and Thursday 24 December for Express. Allow up to three extra working days for rural addresses. NZ Post says these dates are a guide and can change.
Secret Santa FAQ
What is a good Secret Santa gift for $20 in NZ?
Something used straight away: a decent treat, a summer bit, or a game the group can play. Kiwi Code is $19.98 per game in the $79.90 4-pack.
Is Secret Santa the same as Kris Kringle?
Yes. Both mean drawing one name and buying one gift inside a set budget. Secret Santa is the name you'll hear most in New Zealand.
What should I get a coworker I don't know?
Something neutral and fine for the office: a treat, a desk item, or a group game. For work, pick Kiwi Code Original, Everything Kiwi or Music (all 16+), not Naughty 18+.
How is a $39.95 game a $20 gift?
The 4-pack is four games for $79.90, which is $19.98 each. Use them across a few Secret Santas, or split the pack with friends. You can also choose any four editions on the Kiwi Code page and the same deal applies in the cart.
Will it arrive before Christmas?
For free shipping, order before 2:00 PM NZ time on Friday 18 December for Auckland and the North Island, Thursday 17 December for the South Island, Tuesday 15 December for rural addresses, and Thursday 10 December for the Chatham Islands. Express cut-offs are on our shipping policy.
Which Kiwi Code edition suits a Secret Santa?
Original (16+) suits most adult groups. Family is made for ages 8 and up. Keep Naughty (18+) for adult mates.
Sorted your Secret Santa?
A $20 limit doesn't have to mean another gift nobody remembers in January. Get something useful, something to eat, or something that gets the table laughing on Christmas Day.