Māngere Markets

Every Saturday morning the carpark at Māngere Town Centre turns into the suburb's largest market, and it has been the town centre's weekly gathering point for years. The stalls run in long rows: fruit and vegetables sold by the box, taro and green bananas, fresh fish, hot food cooked to order, and beyond the food, clothing, jewellery, tools and household goods. Families come for the weekly shop as much as for the outing, and that is what makes it worth bringing children along — it is the real thing rather than a market arranged for visitors, with the Pacific and multicultural life of South Auckland on full display. Prams push through the rows easily enough, there is often music or local entertainment among the stalls, and something hot to eat is never far away. Go early, while the produce is stacked high and the crowd is at its best.