Mangere

Including Mangere Bridge and Favona.

Although there are still pockets of Mangere with ramshackle homes, the area is looking brighter as former farms and market gardens are snapped up by developers building new homes.

Also, the Mangere sewage works have been overhauled, meaning 500ha of oxidation ponds have been returned to the sea and 13km of shoreline returned to the Manukau Harbour.

Who lives there?

This is a multicultural area, with Europeans, Maori, Pacific Islanders and Asians all having called Mangere home for a long time. More Indians are moving into the area, too.

Typical dwellings There is a smattering of villas and bungalows, often on old farms or market gardens. Much of Mangere was developed by the state from 1940-1960, with streets of weatherboard homes. In Mangere Bridge, large brick-and-tile homes from the 1960-1970 dominate.

Amenities

This is a very family-oriented area, and the families are often big, so you're never far from a school.

Mangere Bridge has an established shopping centre with an almost village-like atmosphere. Mangere Town Centre is run-down and rather depressing. Still, the mainstreet and mall shopping of Otahuhu, Papatoetoe and Manukau are never far away.

Mangere Mountain is a great place for walking , while Ambury Farm Park is a large working farm on the foreshore of the Manukau Harbour and has a horse-riding centre for people with disabilities.

The 100ha Otuataua Stonefields Historic Reserve near Ihumatao is fascinating, offering plenty of scope for picturesque walks.

There's a strip of reserve along the pretty foreshore at Mangere Bridge, and the abandoned bridge is now a popular spot for fishing and relaxing.

Moana-Nui-a-Kiwa Leisure Centre offers gym and swimming facilities, and there are exhibitions at the Mangere Community Arts Outreach Service.

Real estate

Trends

Land formerly occupied by farms and market gardens is being converted into residential developments, such as Peninsula Park and Puriri Grove. This is still an affordable area but it hasn't been immune to price rises. What you might have bought for $180,000 to $190,000 in August last year would have cost you more than $200,000 in February.

Rental and investment

There's high demand for rental properties here, but some landlords have problems with bad tenants.

Best streets

Kiwi Esplanade in Mangere Bridge has water views, nice houses, mature trees, and a reserve along its entire length.