Growth in the south of the city continues to outstrip the rest of Auckland.
Franklin, Papakura and Manurewa Local Board chairs Angela Fulljames, Brent Catchpole and Matt Winiata agree that presents challenges.
“What we’re seeing is changing our communities. That’s obvious in villages like Patumahoe and Clevedon, with more houses appearing,” Fulljames says.
“We are also facing massive growth at Drury that’s going to bring infrastructure challenges.”
Catchpole is also watching the Drury development. “More people need more cars, wastewater, libraries, pools, facilities, and all when people want rates contained.
“Our community is changing too as people arrive from diverse backgrounds. We need to adapt for that but we can’t lose sight of the importance of our Māori community.”
Winiata says Manurewa hasn’t seen the same growth.
“But we are seeing a creep where more than half of our housing is now rented. Some say tenants don’t commit to an area, others that landlords from outside it don’t.
“We have to be aware our population is younger and more diverse and continue to look for ways to engage so everyone has a voice.”
Growth in the south is higher than across the city, Papakura and Franklin leading the way, only Manurewa bucking the trend.
At the 2023 Census there were 84,357 people in Franklin - up 9519 on 2018, 72,318 in Papakura - up 14,682, and 98,784 in Manurewa - up 3114.
Population growth in Papakura was the largest for any of the city’s 21 local board areas, Franklin also growing above the average, but Manurewa falling below it.
In Papakura nearly one in four was under 15, two-thirds were between 15-64, and the rest 65 or older – the same as in Manurewa; while in Franklin one in five was under 15, 63 per cent were 15-64, and the rest over 65, skewing the area older.
In Manurewa those of Māori and Asian descent both make-up about a quarter of the population, well behind Pasifika’s 40 per cent.
Papakura was also diverse, with about a quarter Māori, more than a third European, and another third – the biggest increase – Asian.
Franklin was 16 per cent Māori and 67 per cent European, with the12.5 per cent growth in the Asian population the largest increase.
The Census also captured the number of dwellings. Papakura had 21,615 private dwellings, up 4521, most owned and the rest rented, while Manurewa grew to 25,881 homes but more than half were rented.
Franklin had 28,797 dwellings, 13.1 per cent, like Papakura, also faster than Auckland as a whole.
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