1. KeepCup

An eco-friendly KeepCup (from A$30) is the perfect gift for your coffee-loving workmates, and the Melbourne-based business offers a range of materials and colour combos. Or check out these Australian-made stoneware cups (A$38.95), each one an original.

If you are on the other side of the Tasman, these handmade stoneware cups (NZ$35) from the west-coast town of Raglan are microwave and dishwasher safe, as well as beautiful.

2. Wellness journal

The summer holidays can be a great time for a bit of self-reflection. These personal growth journals, I Am… Limitless (NZ$42.95) and The Five Minute Journal (A$45), offer inspiration, tools and techniques to help your colleague enter the new year with clear goals and a positive mindset.

3. Puzzles

What accountant doesn’t enjoy a puzzle to keep sharp during the holidays? Check out this beautiful 1000-piece puzzle (A$39) created in collaboration with the National Museum Australia, or with the same number of pieces, this classic native birds of New Zealand puzzle (NZ$39.95).

4. Herbs

There’s nothing like the smell of fresh herbs to elicit all the summer feels. Simply grab a lush basil, oregano or mint plant and wrap it in string and brown paper, or buy an inexpensive basket to put several herbs in and voilà! A feel-good gift in an instant, for about $20.

5. Essential oils

Soothe frayed, end-of-year (or end-of-tax-year) nerves with Natio’s Focus On Stress Pure Essential Oil Blend, which includes orange peel, geranium, lavender and patchouli, for a heavenly scent. It can be used for diffusing, massage or inhalation and is priced at about $30 in both New Zealand and Australia.

6. Art supplies

As Albert Einstein said, creativity is intelligence having fun, so why not unleash the artist in your workmate with this Mont Marte Watercolour Basics Kit (A$36.95), which includes brushes, paint, an A4 watercolour pad and palette.

7. Great books

Released in 2023, The Diary of a CEO: The 33 Laws of Business & Life from British serial entrepreneur, speaker and investor Steven Bartlett is featured in many top business book lists. Drawing on his own experiences and those of others, Bartlett urges readers to redefine success and achieve their potential by taking the road less travelled.

Meanwhile, in Hidden Potential: The Science of Achieving Greater Things, bestselling writer and psychologist Adam Grant presents an entertaining and unique framework to unlock genius, creativity and ultimate success. About A$30 each.

8. Tea infuser

So much nicer than a teabag, a tea infuser is an eco-alternative for a microplastic-free brew. Check out one of these gadgets from T2, available on both sides of the Tasman. Team it with a pouch of herbal or black leaf tea for under $20.

9. Coffee card

Does your workmate frequent a favourite cafe for their daily fix? Head on over and purchase a gift card or coffee card, adding as little or as much value as your budget allows.

_{Note: prices are correct at the time of publication (December 2023).}