South Auckland is the poorest part of Auckland, has a comparatively high crime rate and the worst reputation. It’s also the most colourful area, with a large Pacific Island population, and has some of the cheapest real estate. Several suburbs –Mangere Bridge, Weymouth, Flat Bush, Totara Heights, Wattle Downs, Manurewa East and rural Karaka – are particularly popular. Although prices are rising, there are some good lifestyles and views to be bought for a comparatively low price.

You can get waterfront real estate for less than $1 million in places such as Weymouth, Wattle Downs and Mangere Bridge. Mangere Bridge is an established middle-class enclave in a working-class area. Sparkling new subdivisions at Goodwood Heights, Wattle Downs and Flat Bush have comfortable new homes for $450,000-$700,000, with older homes for less than $400,000. Totara Heights and Manurewa East are older and cheaper areas, but with some large new homes. There are grand lifestyle blocks in Karaka for $1 million plus. At the time of writing, Manurewa boasted the cheapest house for sale in South Auckland – for $219,000. There is a huge rental market, but many properties are dismal.

If it’s cheap ethnic food, greasy takeaways and basic pubs and steakhouses that you’re after, there’s no shortage in South Auckland. Anything more sophisticated is harder to find. Try the Villa Maria Vineyard and Restaurant (09 255 0660) in Mangere, the Latin Coffee cafe in Mangere Bridge, Bracu (09 236 1030) in Bombay, Palazzo Roma Restaurant (09 294 7440) in Drury or Vin Alto (09 292 8845) in Clevedon.

If it’s cheap ethnic food, greasy takeaways and basic pubs and steakhouses that you’re after, there’s no shortage in South Auckland. Anything more sophisticated is harder to find. Try the Villa Maria Vineyard and Restaurant in Mangere, the Latin Coffee cafe in Mangere Bridge, Bracu in Bombay, Palazzo Roma Restaurant in Drury or Vin Alto in Clevedon.

Most of South Auckland’s schools cope admirably well with the challenges of being in lower socio-economic areas but wealthier parents often send their children to private schools, notably King’s College in Otahuhu. Of the state secondary schools, Papatoetoe High School, Rosehill College and Alfriston College have the best reputations. There are new secondary schools planned for Flat Bush. There’s a school for the blind in Manurewa, a Muslim girls’ college and a Muslim school serving all ages.

Buses and trains serve the area adequately but most residents have private transport. The city-to-Pukekohe train has 10 stops in South Auckland. The Southern Motorway cuts through the area and gets very congested at peak times. The Southwestern Expressway links Manukau with Auckland Airport, in Mangere. Mangere Bridge is 14km from the city, Karaka is 35km.

South Auckland has a high crime rate compared with most other areas of Auckland. Burglaries are a particular problem. The airport disturbs the peace of many residents.