When my husband and I decided to transform our tired backyard into a proper outdoor entertaining space, we knew we needed quality products that could handle New Zealand’s unpredictable weather. After months of research and several disappointing experiences with smaller retailers, we stumbled upon Living Culture—and I’m genuinely glad we did.
What Living Culture Offers
Living Culture positions itself as Australasia’s leading outdoor living and shade supplier, and after purchasing from them, I can see why they’ve earned that reputation. Their product range is genuinely impressive, covering virtually everything you need to create a complete outdoor living space.
Their core offerings include: 
- Outdoor furniture – Everything from teak dining sets to aluminium lounges, rope sofas, wicker pieces, and recycled polymer options
- Pergolas and shade solutions – Custom louvred pergolas, retractable systems, patio covers, carports, and outdoor blinds
- Heating and ambiance – Fire pits, outdoor heaters, and BBQ equipment
- Fencing and privacy – Aluminium blade panels, pool fencing, and privacy gates
- Accessories – Outdoor cushions, throw blankets, bar furniture, and side tables
What sets them apart is that they’re not just reselling generic products. They work directly with manufacturers to design purpose-built pieces specifically for our climate, which means better quality control and more competitive pricing.
What Living Culture Are Famous For
Living Culture has built their reputation on three key things: pergolas, teak furniture, and their direct-to-consumer model.
Their louvred pergola systems are particularly popular, and for good reason. We purchased the Baltic pergola for our deck, and the engineering quality is immediately apparent. The reinforced beams, watertight seals with premium gaskets, and 2mm polycarbonate panels feel incredibly solid. The louvre system provides excellent water resistance—something we’ve tested thoroughly during Auckland’s recent downpours.
Their teak furniture collections are another standout. They source sustainably grown A-grade Indonesian teak, and you can feel the difference in weight and finish compared to cheaper alternatives. The Cardrona and Newport collections are particularly beautiful, combining classic design with practical durability.
Perhaps most importantly, Living Culture is known for cutting out the middlemen. By working directly with manufacturers, they offer products that would typically cost 30-40% more through traditional furniture retailers. This was a major factor in our decision to purchase from them.
Living Culture Review NZ
We ordered a Baltic pergola system and the Sandpiper 2.0 outdoor sofa set through their website. The entire process was refreshingly straightforward.
The Good
The website is clean and easy to navigate, with detailed product specifications and multiple photos for each item. I appreciated that they include actual measurements and materials information rather than vague marketing descriptions. Prices are clearly displayed, and they offer finance options if you’re making a larger purchase.
Communication before delivery was excellent. We received regular updates about our order status, and the delivery team contacted us the day before to confirm timing. When the furniture arrived, everything was well-packaged with clear assembly instructions. The pergola installation was handled by their professional team, who were punctual, efficient, and cleaned up thoroughly after themselves.
The follow-up after purchase was a nice touch—they sent a brief survey and checked that we were happy with everything. It’s these small details that show a company genuinely cares about customer satisfaction.
The Quality
Six months in, and I’m genuinely impressed with how everything has held up. The teak furniture has weathered beautifully (we do oil it as recommended), and the Sunbrella cushions have resisted both sun fade and the occasional rain shower we forgot to bring them in from. The pergola’s louvre system works smoothly, and we’ve had zero issues with leaks or mechanical problems.
Living Culture offers warranties of up to 10 years on their shade structures and at least 12 months on other products, which gave us confidence in the purchase.
Things to Consider
While our experience was largely positive, I should mention that they operate primarily online with a showroom model. They have locations in Auckland and Christchurch where you can view products, but stock is kept at warehouses. This means you can’t always walk in and immediately see every item you’re interested in. If you’re someone who prefers to sit on every sofa before buying, this might be frustrating. However, their return policy is reasonable if something doesn’t work out.
Also, while their prices are competitive for the quality you’re getting, these aren’t budget products. You’re paying for premium materials and construction. If you’re looking for the cheapest possible outdoor furniture, you’ll find lower prices elsewhere—but likely at the cost of durability and weather resistance.
Further and probably most importantly, alot of their products are on backorder, i.e. you order..pay and then have to wait 8-12 weeks – I assume for your product to be shipped in the next container from China to New Zealand. This saves them holding stock that may not actually ever get ordered, but also saves them importing product before someone buys it. Some products are in stock and the website says they like to hold local stock of most things. Therefore if you’re planning a summer stunner you may want to get on and order it in September or October at the latest.
Delivery fees can also be quite high, unsurprisingly for some products such as pergola’s which weigh tons – these are delivered by carriers such as Mainfreight which can add another $500+ to the price of your product.
Alternatives to Living Culture
There are few and far between alternatives out there. The closest brand I would say is Trade Tested which offers similar products but a lot less outdoor furniture and cheaper grade pergolas. If you live in a high wind zone such as Wellington region you probably want something sturdier – the only options then are local pergola installers – I looked at a few and they are vastly more expensive than Living Culture – think $20,000 instead of $7,000 – and then again are they just reselling the same pergola’s as Living Culture and making money on installation labour?
The Verdict
Living Culture delivers exactly what they promise: premium outdoor living products at prices that make sense because they’ve eliminated unnecessary markups. Their focus on weather-resistant materials, solid construction, and thoughtful design shows they understand New Zealand conditions.
For anyone serious about creating a quality outdoor space that will last for years rather than seasons, Living Culture is absolutely worth considering. The combination of product quality, fair pricing, and genuine customer service makes them a standout in the outdoor living market.
Would I purchase from them again? Absolutely. In fact, we’re already planning to add one of their cantilever umbrellas next summer.
Rating: 4.5/5 stars
Best for: Quality-focused homeowners, outdoor entertainers, and anyone wanting durable furniture that handles NZ weather
Visit: livingculture.co.nz or their showrooms in Auckland and Christchurch
Disclaimer: This review is based on genuine research and represents an honest assessment of Living Culture’s offerings and customer experience based on available information and customer feedback.
