East Tamaki Healthcare director Ranjna Patel has lived in Pakuranga for the past 32 years. She tells Farida Master why Pakuranga is perfect for her family.
Quiet, peaceful and safe, Pakuranga is not age-defined as people of all generations reside here. There's such a sense of belonging that my son Rakesh, who had moved out with his family, has come back to settle. It's amazing how most of the friends he grew up with are gravitating to the same locality.
Pakuranga is a perfect place to bring up a family. Culturally rich and surrounded by great schools, playgrounds, tennis courts and beaches, it has given us lots of treasured moments. Like the glorious family picnics at the Eastern or Bucklands beach, playing cricket and badminton at Lloyd Elsmore Park and storytelling sessions at the Pakuranga Library.
The recently refurbished Te Tuhi Centre for Arts on Reeves Rd is an oasis of creativity where our kids loved dabbling with art, craft and jazz ballet. Now my grand-daughters are regulars at the cultural hub.
We initially moved to Pakuranga because it was considered one of the best school zones. We wanted our children - Rakesh, Depak and Meena - to study at Sunnyhills school and then at St Kentigern College. We lived for 30 years at Fisher Parade, then moved to Manor Park, Sunnyhills, just two years ago. In those days the suburb was more farmland. When Manor Park was first launched as a gated community, they had flown in Peter Bowles of 'To the Manor Born' fame. It created quite a flutter. But we couldn't afford it at that time.
