My Auckland: Papatoetoe

Karima Madut at her favourite place to grab a snack, Hunter's Cafe, Hunter's Plaza. Photo / Steven McNicholl

Karima Madut has called Papatoetoe home since she was 7. The young performer takes Rebecca Kamm through her favourite suburb's hotspots.

I've lived in Papatoetoe since I was 7 years old - so almost 12-and-a-half years now. My family came to New Zealand from Kenya.

I like it here because it's really quiet, but has a great community feel. Everyone is so friendly; when I walk into a shop it feels like they all know me, and a lot of them do.

Hunter's Plaza is a mall I go to a lot; there's a huge food court there and a cafe called Hunters, which I love to stop by at. I know a lot of the people that work there.

Hunter's Corner Bakery on East Tamaki Rd is good, too. They make really nice hotdogs. For takeaways I'd recommend a Middle Eastern place called Li'l Abners, where you can get a good kebab and other stuff. There's also an Indian grocery store called Indo Spice World on Puhinui Rd which has great ethnic ingredients.

The place I go to the most for shopping is Kmart in Hunters Plaza. It's really cheap and they have lots of nice things - and great bargains. I usually get clothes and shoes from there. Once I got three pairs of shoes for $3 and $6.

My favourite place of all would have to be Papatoetoe Library. I've been going there forever, so I know the staff pretty well. It has a really good atmosphere. I tend to get fines, but they know I don't earn much money so usually clear them. They're a nice bunch of people.

There's a brand new sports site in Papatoetoe that was only finished this year. It's got indoor surfaces for different sports, tennis courts, a hockey pitch, meeting and function rooms, a gym, offices and changing rooms. And it's right next door to a huge football field. I'd recommend anyone coming to Papatoetoe for the first time to check it out.

Karima's picks:

Papatoetoe Sports Centre, Sutton Cres. Ph (09) 277 6710.

Li'l Abners Takeaway, 320 Gt South Rd. Ph (09) 278 6506.

Papatoetoe Library, 30 Wallace St (parking off St George St). Ph (09) 278 4392.

Kmart, Hunters Plaza, Cnr Great South Rd & Sutton Cres. Ph (09) 279 9300.

* Karima is performing in the premiere season of A Thousand Hills, a story straight from the heart of Africa centred on love, identity, survival, hope and humanity. See it at the Herald Theatre from October 20. Go online or call 0800 BUY TICKETS.