From Wikitravel

Manukau City [1] is part of the Auckland metropolitan area, which is located in the Auckland Region of the North Island of New Zealand. Sometimes known as South Auckland, it lies immediately to the south and east of the adjacent Auckland City. It is New Zealand's third most populous "city", after Auckland City and Christchurch.

It is one of the truly multi-cultural cities of the world, with Pacific Island nationalities being particularly strongly represented among its residents. There are over 55 different ethnic groups that make up the population of this unique city, with people from Europe, Asia, and the Americas also here.

Contents 1 Understand 2 Get in 2.1 By air 3 Get around 4 See 5 Do 6 Buy 7 Eat 8 Drink 9 Sleep 10 Get out

Understand

The resident population of Manukau City in the 2001 census was 283,200. It is now believed to be in excess of 310,000 making Manukau City one of the fastest growing areas in New Zealand. It has welcomed more than 5,500 new residents each year since 1996. The Howick and Manurewa wards accounted for 60% of the growth, with the remainder spread evenly amongst the remaining wards.

Manukau's diverse population is something that makes this city unique. It has over 55 different ethnic groups represented. Manukau city has the highest proportion of Pacific Island residents (25.6%) of any New Zealand city. In some cases, there are more Pacific Island residents living in Manukau city than there are on the Pacific Islands that those residents originate from.

Also of interest is the age spread of Manukau's population. Manukau has the largest proportion of people under 25 years of age (41.9%) making it a city with a strong young population.

The official tourism website is www.welcome2manukau.com.

Get in

By air

• Auckland International Airport, the main international gateway to New Zealand, is located in the city at Mangere.

Get around

See

• Auckland Regional Botanic Gardens [2], located in Manurewa, has over 10,000 different plant types, both natives and exotics, spread over 65 hectares. Hosts the annual Ellerslie Flower Show.

• Butterfly Creek, Tom Pearce Drive (near Auckland International Airport), [3]. A tropical butterfly house.

• Howick Historical Village, [4].

• Otuataua Stonefields, site of ancient Maori gardens on a low volcano.

Do

• Rainbow's End [5] is NZ’s premier family-based theme park with many rides and attractions. Bus routes 471-472, 474, 487, 497.

• Climb Mangere Mountain [6], an extinct volcano and former site of a pre-European Maori village, overlooking the Manukau Harbour.

Buy

Eat

Drink

Sleep

Get out

Ferries leave from Half Moon Bay for Hauraki Gulf islands and central Auckland.

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