The Charity Boutique: designer bargains in Howick's Rice's Mall
Auckland · Shop 5 Rices Mall 65 Picton Street Howick 2014
Hours: Mon: 9:00am - 4:30pm; Tue: 9:00am - 4:30pm; Wed: 9:00am - 4:30pm; Thu: 9:00am - 4:30pm; Fri: 9:00am - 4:30pm; Sat: 9:00am - 1:00pm
Second.nz Editorial · 8/16/2026
Rice's Mall sits at the heart of Howick village, wedged among the suburb's cafes and specialty stores, and Shop 5 is home to The Charity Boutique — a compact op shop that punches above its weight on quality. It's become one of the stops locals mention when they talk about Howick's cluster of good op shops.
The shop's profits support the Rest Assured Respite Trust, which funds respite care for people living with ME/CFS (chronic fatigue syndrome) and fibromyalgia — conditions that get comparatively little public attention. A steady, low-key charity shop is exactly the kind of ongoing funding that kind of cause relies on.
Online feedback is genuinely positive and consistent: shoppers repeatedly mention friendly staff and a layout that's well thought out for the shop's size, calling it a reliable source of bargains. It holds a strong average rating on the Op Shop Directory.
It's open Monday to Friday, 9am to 4:30pm, and Saturday 9am to 1pm — closed Sundays. Given its small footprint, it's more a browse-and-treasure-hunt stop than a big haul destination, and fits neatly into a wider loop of Howick's other op shops.