Trade Me

Trade Me, New Zealand's auction and classifieds marketplace

Trade Me is a New Zealand online buying and selling platform that combines auctions and classified listings. Its catalogue covers new and used items across a wide range of categories, as well as property, vehicles, job listings, and professional services. The company presents itself as New Zealand's largest and most popular auction and classifieds site.

Categories and products available

The platform organises its offering into several main areas. The Marketplace section brings together consumer goods such as clothing, computers and laptops, electronics, furniture, electric scooters, iPhone phones, PS5 consoles, and sports equipment. It also includes dedicated sections for animals, including dogs for sale, and for unique items such as portable cabins.

The Motors section covers vehicles and boats: cars, motorbikes, boats for sale, campervans, and parts and accessories. Featured searches include models such as Ford Escort, Honda CRV, Kia Seltos, Kia Stinger, Mazda 3, Mazda Axela, and Toyota. The section also includes buying and selling advice, dealer news and information, and a tool to sell your own car.

In Property, houses for sale and rent are listed, with frequent searches in cities such as Auckland, Christchurch, Rotorua, Tauranga, Wellington, Dunedin, and Timaru. This area includes property news and guides, sold properties, open homes, a tool for agents (OneHub), and a real estate agent finder.

The Jobs section offers listings grouped by sector, including agriculture, construction, education, healthcare, hospitality, manufacturing, office and admin, retail, trades and services, and transport. It is complemented by careers advice, advertiser guidance, a salary guide, and the JobSmart service.

Professional and local services

The Services section allows you to hire services of many different kinds. In the trades area, listings include alarm and security, automotive, building and construction, electrical and gas, flooring, glass, painting and plastering, plumbing, and roofing. Domestic services include animals and pets, architecture and design, babysitters, cleaning, computing, moving and storage, nannies and carers, outdoor and garden, repairs and maintenance.

Services for events and entertainment are also listed (caterers, entertainers, party rentals and supplies, photography and video, wedding), health and wellbeing (beauty and relaxation, life coaching and counselling, medical services, personal training, weight loss), and other categories such as experiences and tourism, farming and agriculture, financial and legal, gifts and hampers, property and real estate, spiritual, and tuition.

Buying and selling between individuals and businesses

The platform is designed for both buyers and sellers. Users can post listings, manage watchlists and favourites, and access featured deals, stores, and promotions. The site shows features such as $1 reserve listings and closing soon sections. At the time of analysis, the company indicated the removal of success fees for sellers, while maintaining the service's features.

Editorial content and community

Trade Me complements its commercial activity with informative and help content: property news and guides, vehicle buying and selling advice, dealer information, careers guidance, and a salary guide. It has a help centre, trust and safety information, seller information, and community announcements. The company also offers related services such as Trade Me Insurance, and maintains related sites such as homes.co.nz, MotorWeb, CarExpert, Holiday Houses, and FindSomeone.

Corporate structure and reach

Trade Me Limited is the owner of the site, with a presence in New Zealand and a national .co.nz domain. The platform operates nationwide, as reflected in property searches spread across various New Zealand cities and the variety of job and service categories available.