Best Fundraising Products in NZ for 2026

The product you choose for your fundraiser matters. Pick something people actually want and your sellers have an easy job. Pick something obscure and you'll be stuck with leftover stock and disappointed volunteers.

Here's what's working in New Zealand right now, with rough margins and honest takes on each option.

Pies

Pies are the undisputed king of NZ fundraising. Everyone eats pies, everyone has a freezer, and families will happily buy a dozen at a time.

• Typical margin: $4-7 per pack of 12, depending on the supplier.
• Why it works: Pies are a staple. There's no convincing needed. Offer mince, steak and cheese, butter chicken, and a vegetarian option and you'll cover most tastes.
• Watch out for: Delivery logistics. Frozen pies need to stay frozen, so make sure your supplier can deliver direct to customers or that you have a solid pick-up plan.

Pies are the go-to for a reason. If you're running your first fundraiser, start here.

Cheese

Cheese fundraisers have grown in popularity over the past few years, and for good reason. The price point is higher than pies, which means better margins per sale.

• Typical margin: $5-10 per item, depending on the pack size and brand.
• Why it works: It feels like a treat. People buy cheese as gifts, for entertaining, or just because they love good cheese. NZ-made artisan cheese has a quality feel that makes supporters happy to spend.
• Best timing: Winter and the lead-up to Christmas. Cheese platters are a holiday staple.

Cookie Time Cookies

Cookie Time is a Kiwi institution. The brand recognition does most of the selling for you.

• Typical margin: $3-5 per pack.
• Why it works: Kids love selling them because everyone knows the brand. Parents love buying them because they're a familiar treat. The bright packaging stands out too.
• Best for: Schools and youth groups. If your sellers are under 15, Cookie Time is probably your best bet because it's the easiest sell.

Samosas

Samosas are a strong option that a lot of groups overlook. They're perfect for communities with diverse food preferences, and they freeze well.

• Typical margin: $4-6 per pack.
• Why it works: They're different. In a world where every second fundraiser is pies or chocolate, samosas stand out. Vegetable samosas cover vegetarian buyers too, which broadens your market.
• Best for: Schools and workplaces where you want to offer something a bit different from the usual.

Butter

This one surprises people, but butter fundraisers do very well. Everyone uses butter, and premium NZ butter is something people are happy to stock up on.

• Typical margin: $3-5 per unit.
• Why it works: It's a household essential. Unlike treats or snacks, butter is something people need anyway. Buying it through a fundraiser feels like a no-brainer because supporters were going to buy butter regardless.
• Best for: Parent networks and office fundraisers where you want high participation without a hard sell.

Oil

Similar logic to butter. Cooking oil, particularly quality olive oil or avocado oil, sells well because it's a kitchen staple.

• Typical margin: $4-8 per bottle, depending on the brand and size.
• Why it works: Premium NZ oils make great gifts and pantry staples. People will buy two or three bottles at a time.
• Watch out for: Make sure the price point isn't too high for your community. A $25 bottle of olive oil works well in some areas but not others.

Hot Cross Buns

Seasonal but extremely effective. If your fundraiser lands in the right window (February through Easter), hot cross buns are a guaranteed winner.

• Typical margin: $3-5 per pack.
• Why it works: Seasonal demand is built in. People are already craving them, and buying through a fundraiser means they get their fix while supporting a good cause.
• Watch out for: Timing is everything. Too early and people aren't thinking about Easter yet. Too late and they've already bought some from the supermarket.

Chocolate

Chocolate is a classic fundraiser product worldwide, and it works in NZ too. Bars, boxes, and assortments all sell.

• Typical margin: $2-4 per item, though premium chocolate can go higher.
• Why it works: It's an impulse buy. People will grab a bar or a box without overthinking it. Great for workplaces and school gate sales.
• Best for: Smaller fundraising targets or as a second product alongside something with higher margins like pies or cheese.

How to Choose the Right Product

Think about your community. A rugby club's supporters will jump at pies and sausages. A primary school's parents might prefer Cookie Time or cheese. A workplace fundraiser could do well with butter and oil because they're practical purchases.

You can browse the full range of products available through Raised's wholesaler network and set up your campaign in a few minutes.

A few general tips:

• Offer two or three products rather than just one. This gives supporters options without overwhelming them.
• Pick products with good margins relative to their price. A $15 product with $5 profit is better than a $5 product with $2 profit, because each sale does more work.
• Consider delivery. Products that ship direct to buyers save your team the hassle of sorting and distributing orders. Raised handles this for most products on the platform.

The right product, paired with a motivated group of sellers, is all you need. Pick something your community will actually want to buy and the rest takes care of itself.