Manurewa is the very essence of diversity, with its environs including some of Auckland’s most characterless low-rent suburbs (such as Clendon Park) and some of its most elegant new subdivisions (The Gardens, for example). As a further contrast, just a kilometre or so from the colourless main shopping area are the lush Auckland Regional Botanic Gardens, former home of the annual Ellerslie Flower Show, which draws well-heeled plant lovers from all over the city. Totara Park, next to the Botanic Gardens, has bush walks and possibly Auckland’s only bush-surrounded public swimming pool, as well as a horse riding centre for the disabled. The western side of the area flanks the Manukau Harbour, and includes a number of small peninsulas creating interesting reserves and some of the city’s cheapest waterfront real estate. To the east are the rural areas of Alfriston and Ardmore.
Who Lives There?
The availability of fairly cheap rental homes has made the area popular with those on low incomes, including refugees and other immigrants. Ethnicities represented include Iranians, Iraqis, Fijians, Indians as well as local Maori and Europeans. Together they have generated good community spirit. New upmarket homes including those around the botanic gardens and the new Wattle Cove area beyond Wattle Downs are attracting huge numbers of young professionals.
Clendon is largely investor country. First home buyers stretch to Manurewa and to Weymouth Village at the peninsular end of Settlers Cove and Waimahia Ave. Further east, lifestylers live on the larger blocks of semi-rural land.
Typical Homes
Most Manurewa homes are 1960s/70s/80s weatherboard and brick-and-tile on generous sites. There’s some state and ex-state housing. Villas and bungalows are rare here. New and grander developments are typically of brick and plaster, especially at the Wattle Cove peninsular end of Wattle Downs. Wattle Downs has more 15-20 year old homes with some older stock.
That was Manurewa in brief.
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