Onehunga - An exclusive extract

Including Oranga, Te Papapa and Penrose

Onehunga's attractive location and its generally larger sections make the area appealing to families, but many professional single people and couples also live here.

Traditionally Onehunga is working class and has been home to many Maori and Polynesian families. A wide range of ethnic groups is represented - more than 50 nationalities are enrolled at Penrose High.

Typical buyers into the suburb include young couples seeking their first do-up and migrants from Asia, Europe and South Africa.

Onehunga is full of elegant colonial villas and quaint workers' cottages on the slopes overlooking the Manukau Harbour and the port.

It is close to One Tree Hill, handy to the airport, and not too far from the CBD either. Oranga has been viewed as a more rugged version of Onehunga, although it's also being spruced up. Penrose and Te Papapa are mostly industrial and commercial.

While many of the older homes have already been renovated, there are still a few untouched vintage houses just waiting to devour a renovator's every spare dollar.

There is also a range of more modern housing, including 1950s brick and tile bungalows and many contemporary brick and tile or plaster and tile family homes. Weatherboard state houses and ex-state houses are plentiful, as well as stucco duplexes.

Infill housing is common and larger properties harder to find. There are also a number of one- to two-bedroom apartments which have been built predominantly on industrial land during the past five to 10 years.

Amenities
Local schools include Onehunga Primary School and Te Papapa School. For secondary students there's Onehunga High School and Penrose High School.

Onehunga Mall is a lively place thanks to a clever revamp in the early 1990s. The huge Dressmart outlet centre attracts shoppers from throughout Auckland for its fashion bargains.

Open spaces include One Tree Hill Domain and Cornwall Park as well as Jellicoe Park and Waikaraka Park and the motorway-edged Onehunga Wharf. Waikaraka Park cemetery is steeped in history, and there are a number of heritage walks in the area.

Sporting facilities include the Onehunga War Memorial Pool and the Manukau Cruising Club, as well as clubs catering for bowling, soccer, rugby, squash and rowing.

Trends
The recent over-excited Auckland property market, combined with immigration and favourable economic activity, has seen a shortage of properties here both for sale and rental.

Houses are more expensive nearer to One Tree Hill; the lower parts of Onehunga are close to busy roads and industrial areas. For an average family home, expect to pay $400,000 to $600,000.

Rental and investment
Older character homes are popular as rentals, but so are the newer townhouses close to the shopping hub.

Best streets
Mariri and Huapai Rds, the western end of Grey St and Arthur St and Quadrant Rd.