AUCKLAND, Today: A new, quirky campaign-come-museum opens today on Karangahape Road in New Zealand. It’s an experiment where paper receipts become currency, turning them into collectible artefacts.
For two weeks, shoppers can trade three receipts for a mini Vegas Girl key ring. Collect more and you can score bigger rewards, like leasing a shop space after hours.
The items sold reflect K Road’s unique history and vibe. Karangahape Road has long been known as New Zealand’s unofficial red-light district, even earning a spot as one of the coolest streets in the world by Time Out.
Among the treasures on offer are original photos from Fiona Clark’s 1975 LGBTQI series, a memorial puzzle of the Mercury Plaza, and a ‘KRO4D’ license plate.
Everything is available at 490 Karangahape Road, running from today to the 20th of September. Once stocks are gone, they’re gone.
“We wanted to make this more of an art project than an ad campaign. We turned receipts into currency and built a loyalty program that invites fun and mischief.” – Sam Stuchbury
“We wanted to make this more of an art project than an ad campaign. We turned receipts into currency and built a loyalty program that invites fun and mischief,” says Sam Stuchbury, Executive Creative Director at Motion Sickness.
“It’s part art, part experiment, and part souvenir shop,” says Jamey Holloway, CEO of the Karangahape Road Business Association.
Other items up for grabs include a full-size stencil from tattoo artist Thom Hinton, a sourdough starter from Fort Greene, and a USB with recordings from the street.
“By the end, we’ll have a room full of receipts, and we’ll use a mix of an intern and AI to measure the street’s spending,” adds Stuchbury.
- Note: Purchases must be made in person on Karangahape Road—no online store for this project!
CREDITS
Agency: Motion Sickness
Executive Creative Director: Sam Stuchbury
Senior Art Director: Hamish Steptoe
Creative: Freddy Riddiford
Account Manager: Alexandra Clark
Media Planner: Ella Liddell
Production: Motion Sickness
Head of Production: Joseph McAlpine
Producer: Morgan Leary
Production Designer: Joseph Leary
Stills Photographer: Kayle Lawson
Videographer: Ned Pound
Construction Manager: Samuel Montgomery
Retoucher: Denny Monk
Publicity: Leni Ma’ia’i & Finn Hogan – Dig PR Client: Karangahape Business Association
General Manager: Jamey Holloway
Marketing & Communications Director: France Hémon
Karangahape Returns original product creator credits:
“Shopkeeper” – Tony Downing
“Karangahape” back tattoo piece by Thom Hinton and Madison Taiapa at Bruce Tattoo
“Mercury Plaza” Puzzle & image by Stjohn Milgrew, 2025
“K Rd Field Recordings” soundscapes by James Gibb and Oliver Johnston at Cay Ltd
“Red Eye” book by Ann Shelton, 1997
“Go Girl” postcards and badges from the 2004 tour of 1974 original photography series by Fiona Clark
Special thanks to KBA business suppliers: Barber Dan, Coco’s Cantina, Fort Greene, Lambs’ Pharmacy, Kokako Coffee and Bridget Pyc – Property Sustainability Manager at Samson Corporation
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