Taste of Puketāpapa, a campaign supported by Puketāpapa Local Board, celebrates the area’s diversity and unique cultural identity that is reflected in the unique food, shopping and playing options available.
From New Zealand’s first Afghan restaurant to the country’s largest Indian apparel retail outlet, you name it and you can probably find it in Puketāpapa.
“This is a great community to be running a restaurant in,” says Musa, the owner of Kabul House which has recently opened at Tulja Centre in Stoddard Road and serves authentic Afghanistani food. “People from everywhere are welcome here.”
Mahesh Kumar echoes this sentiment. His well-known Indian fashion store, Roop Darshan, started here almost three decades ago and over time grew with the growing community in the area.
“We’ve seen some changes to our community over the years with new people coming here and making their lives here,” says Kumar.
“People who eventually move out of the area still keep coming back for a taste of home. In our store, we get people from all over Auckland.”
The pace and the scale of change don’t seem to daunt the locals who are used to diversity as a way of life.
“The harmony between our communities is truly special and what sets us apart,” says Harry Doig, Chair of Puketāpapa Local Board, based around Three Kings, Hillsborough, Waikowhai, Lynfield, Wesley and bordering the Manukau Harbour.
Taste of Puketāpapa has made it even easier for people to check out the unique flavours and try everything that Puketāpapa has to offer. Over six weeks in April and May people can go into a draw to win cool giveaways via the Local Board’s facebook page. The easy online directory lists all the participating organisations so whatever people are looking for is quickly found. Local organisations can take part by signing up.
To go into the draw to win giveaways visit our Facebook page.
To check out everything Puketāpapa has to offer and to participate in the campaign go here.
