Neighbourhood: Pukekohe

Jill and Andrew Vivian with their children (from left) Jordan, Briana, Chloe and Josh. Photo / Regan Schoultz

Elisabeth Easther spoke to Andrew Vivian about Pukekohe's many charms.

The farming side of things comes through here, people are more relaxed. Before coming to Pukekohe we lived in Greenhithe but, when we purchased the Venluree business in South Auckland, the travel was just too much so it was better for us to move down here. We don't really miss anything about Greenhithe - aside from our former house - because we have all the facilities we need right here. The general attitude here is more relaxed. In Greenhithe, if you wanted your kids to play with the neighbours' kids, you'd make an appointment for a week's time, then deliver them and pick them up, but here is more laid-back. We never had the neighbours in Greenhithe over for dinner, despite the fact that we're quite hosty people, yet within a week of being in Pukekohe, we were friends with all the neighbours, street barbecues are a regular feature here. The kids were mates with other kids within about four minutes and they're as happy as anything, the free roaming element is much more apparent here.

We've got four kids, aged 11, 9, 7 and 5 and they're all involved in sports. The oldest plays hockey, the two boys in the middle play rugby and they love that we live directly opposite the rugby fields. Access to everything in Pukekohe is easy, whereas in Greenhithe, we had to drive at least 15 minutes to get to anything. Despite the fact that we're more in the country here, we're closer to all the facilities that we want to use. From our house, we're within 500m in either direction of two lakes with willow trees and green grass and ducks - if the kids want to feed the ducks and have a picnic, they can.

We also have about four really top playgrounds close by and the school is very accessible too. Our littlest one is always asking to "go to the fox", meaning the playground with the big flying fox - each of the playgrounds have different features that make them stand out. And the boys really like the bike track in Puni Park for the BMX track, plus there's mountain biking there too.

When we have visitors sometimes we take them for a walk up Cape Hill. Walking up through bush, it only takes about 15 minutes to get to the top, then you can look right across Pukekohe, all the way back to the city, the Sky Tower and down to the Bombay Hills. We have a bit of a tradition now at Guy Fawkes, we go up Cape Hill and watch the fireworks from there.

My wife Jillian is the coffee enthusiast of our family and she likes to go to The Red Shed. Cafe Chaos is another of her favourite haunts, Jillian says the staff there are just lovely and all their food is delicious but, if we were taking the whole family, they would choose Lone Star, every time.

Other local things that we like are the Pukekohe Park Racetrack, when the V8s come here that's pretty exciting. There's also a lot of sport here, cross country running, and all the usual sports, hockey is major down here too, and rugby. We're Counties Manukau supporters now and sometimes we go to the games at the Ecolight Stadium They play matches on Friday nights and Saturdays and they're great fun.

There's such a strong community feeling here. My wife has helped ramp up the walking school bus and it's really humming. Several years in a row we've won the country's Walking School Bus competition, people get involved in things here, there's genuine enthusiasm for things from adults and kids.

I like that it's not a city environment, there's no crazy bustle. As soon as you get north of Mt Wellington, you feel it change, the attitude on the road is different. I think the farming side of things comes through here, people are more relaxed. The simple things like the farmers' market on Saturday mornings, the mood there is an indicator of the connection people have to the rural world. When I was a boy I just saw this area as potato farms, but there's been so much change since then, enormous development. If you offered me anywhere else in Auckland to live right now, I think I would still choose Pukekohe, but if you'd asked me that 10 years ago I'd have said there's no chance I'd move here - living here has completely changed my perception.

Andrew and Jillian are exhibiting next weekend at the Auckland South Homeshow (which includes pools, spas and outdoor living). Prizes include a $60,000 home package, $26,500 car package and more. July 24-26, 10am-5pm, Vodafone Events Centre, Manukau. Adults $8, under-16s free.