Papatoetoe is in South Auckland, about 18 km southeast of the CBD, northwest of Manukau Central. It's bordered by Otahuhu, Manurewa, Mangere and Wiri.

What does Papatoetoe mean?

"Grounds where toetoe grows" in te reo Māori. Toetoe (Austroderia) are the tall native tussock grasses with feathery flower plumes that grew across the area before settlement.

What's the difference between Old Papatoetoe and Hunters Corner?

Old Papatoetoe is the original town centre on St George Street, with the heritage Town Hall, library and small-town feel. Hunters Corner is a separate commercial strip on Great South Road, anchored by Hunters Plaza mall. Both are part of the suburb.

How do I get to the airport from Papatoetoe?

Take a bus or train to Puhinui Station, then transfer to the AirportLink rapid bus. Total trip is roughly 20 minutes from Puhinui to the airport terminals.

What is Hunters Plaza?

A shopping mall on Great South Road, originally opened in 1991 and refurbished in 2015. It has 47 stores including Kmart, Woolworths, fashion retailers and food court vendors.

Which schools are in zone for Papatoetoe?

Children living in Papatoetoe are in zone for Papatoetoe Central School, Papatoetoe Intermediate, Papatoetoe High School. Living in a school's home zone gives a guaranteed right to enrol.

How do I check my school zone in Papatoetoe?

Use the School Zone Checker on this page — enter your address to check your school zone and see which schools you have a guaranteed right to enrol at.

Papatoetoe, Auckland | Schools, Lifestyle & Local Guide

Living in Papatoetoe

Papatoetoe is, by population, the largest suburb in Auckland. Roughly 18 km southeast of the CBD, between the Manukau Harbour and the Tāmaki River. The name means "grounds where toetoe grows", after the native tussock grasses that once carpeted the place.

It's also two suburbs in one. Old Papatoetoe is the heritage town centre around St George Street, anchored by the Papatoetoe Town Hall (1918), a beautiful red-brick civic building still hosting weddings, dances and community events a century later. Hunters Corner is the second commercial heart, southeast on Great South Road, anchored by Hunters Plaza mall. Two distinct vibes, one suburb.

Papatoetoe's Indian community is one of the largest in New Zealand. Walk down Hunters Corner or Old Papatoetoe and the spice and sweet shops, sari boutiques and Indian eateries are part of the everyday street life. Manukau Indian Association does serious community work.

Two train stations sit inside Papatoetoe: the main Papatoetoe station and Puhinui, which since 2021 has been the rapid-transit interchange to Auckland Airport. Both lines run to the CBD in about 30 minutes.

Is Papatoetoe a good place to live?

Papatoetoe is home to roughly 47,910 people across 5.0 km². On Suburb's overall livability scale, Papatoetoe scores 43 out of 100, with a safety score of 14/100 and 8% green space.

Schools: Papatoetoe has 66 schools in or near the suburb, spanning early-childhood through to secondary education. See the Schools tab below for the full list.

Housing: The estimated median value is around $917K, and weekly rent typically sits around $500.

Lifestyle: Papatoetoe has cafés, shops and things to do nearby. Public transport stops are within easy reach. The current temperature is 11.4°C. See the Weather tab for monthly averages.

Whether Papatoetoe is right for you depends on what you’re looking for. Use the data and community tips below to decide if it suits your lifestyle, family and budget.

Map

Livability Breakdown

Safety14
Amenities100
Schools38
Housing Affordability41
Green space27
Community11
Transport60

Property & Economics

Est. Median Value: $917K
Median Weekly Rent: $500/wk
Median HH Income: $93K/yr
Pop. Growth (5yr): -2.5%
Data Year: 2023

Key Financial Indicators (NZD)

† Est. Median Value is suburb.co.nz's own estimate, modelled from available public data. We aim for accuracy, but where data is limited, estimates may be imprecise.

Nearby Suburbs

Browse all suburbs in Auckland →

Frequently Asked Questions

Where is Papatoetoe?: Papatoetoe is in South Auckland, about 18 km southeast of the CBD, northwest of Manukau Central. It's bordered by Otahuhu, Manurewa, Mangere and Wiri.
What does Papatoetoe mean?: "Grounds where toetoe grows" in te reo Māori. Toetoe (Austroderia) are the tall native tussock grasses with feathery flower plumes that grew across the area before settlement.
What's the difference between Old Papatoetoe and Hunters Corner?: Old Papatoetoe is the original town centre on St George Street, with the heritage Town Hall, library and small-town feel. Hunters Corner is a separate commercial strip on Great South Road, anchored by Hunters Plaza mall. Both are part of the suburb.
How do I get to the airport from Papatoetoe?: Take a bus or train to Puhinui Station, then transfer to the AirportLink rapid bus. Total trip is roughly 20 minutes from Puhinui to the airport terminals.
What is Hunters Plaza?: A shopping mall on Great South Road, originally opened in 1991 and refurbished in 2015. It has 47 stores including Kmart, Woolworths, fashion retailers and food court vendors.

Schools & Enrolment Zones in Papatoetoe

Schools in zone for Papatoetoe

Children living in Papatoetoe have a guaranteed right to enrol at these schools, based on Ministry of Education home zones.

Papatoetoe Central School
Contributing · roll 885 · decile 2
Papatoetoe Intermediate
Intermediate · roll 719 · decile 2
Papatoetoe High School
Secondary (Year 9-15) · roll 1808 · decile 3

Check your school zone

School Zone Checker

Enter your address to check your school zone in Papatoetoe. School enrolment zones (home zones) decide which schools your child has a guaranteed right to enrol at.

Address matching is approximate and based on OpenStreetMap geocoding — confirm an exact result near a zone boundary directly with the school.

Other nearby schools

Schools close to Papatoetoe that you may be able to enrol at under open enrolment or by application (outside your home zone).

Holy Cross School (Papatoetoe)
Full Primary · roll 547 · decile 2 · 0.7 km away
Papatoetoe West School
Contributing · roll 658 · decile 1 · 0.9 km away
Papatoetoe South School
Contributing · roll 579 · decile 1 · 1.6 km away
Puhinui School
Contributing · roll 748 · decile 3 · 1.6 km away
Papatoetoe East School
Contributing · roll 561 · decile 2 · 1.8 km away
De La Salle College
Secondary (Year 7-15) · roll 975 · decile 1 · 1.9 km away
Bairds Mainfreight Primary School
Contributing · roll 322 · decile 1 · 1.9 km away
Papatoetoe North School
Contributing · roll 734 · decile 2 · 1.9 km away
St John the Evangelist Catholic School
Full Primary · roll 190 · decile 1 · 1.9 km away
South Auckland S D A School
Full Primary · roll 350 · decile 2 · 1.9 km away
Kedgley Intermediate
Intermediate · roll 736 · decile 2 · 2.0 km away
Yendarra School
Contributing · roll 211 · decile 1 · 2.1 km away
Aorere College
Secondary (Year 9-15) · roll 1704 · decile 1 · 2.2 km away
Te Hikoi Activity Centre
Activity Centre · 2.2 km away
King's College
Secondary (Year 9-15) · roll 1238 · decile 1 · 2.3 km away
Ferguson Intermediate (Otara)
Intermediate · roll 379 · decile 1 · 2.5 km away
Flat Bush School
Contributing · roll 382 · decile 1 · 2.5 km away
Moanaroa School
Contributing · roll 326 · decile 1 · 2.6 km away
Wymondley Road School
Contributing · roll 128 · decile 1 · 2.6 km away
Otahuhu College
Secondary (Year 9-15) · roll 1179 · decile 1 · 2.7 km away
TKKM o Piripono Te Kura Whakahou ki Ōtara
Full Primary · roll 93 · decile 1 · 2.8 km away
Māngere East School
Full Primary · roll 553 · decile 1 · 2.9 km away
East Tamaki School
Contributing · roll 165 · decile 1 · 3.0 km away
Fairburn School
Contributing · roll 419 · decile 1 · 3.0 km away
Rongomai School
Contributing · roll 148 · decile 1 · 3.0 km away
Sir Edmund Hillary Collegiate Senior School
Secondary (Year 9-15) · roll 670 · 3.1 km away
Sir Edmund Hillary Collegiate Junior School
Contributing · roll 350 · decile 1 · 3.2 km away
Tangaroa College
Secondary (Year 9-15) · roll 1085 · decile 1 · 3.3 km away
Tangaroa College Teen Parent Unit
Teen Parent Unit · decile 1 · 3.3 km away
Sir Edmund Hillary Collegiate Middle School
Intermediate · roll 318 · decile 1 · 3.3 km away
Dawson School
Contributing · roll 279 · decile 1 · 3.3 km away
Redoubt North School
Full Primary · roll 464 · decile 2 · 3.3 km away
St Joseph's School (Otahuhu)
Full Primary · roll 267 · decile 1 · 3.3 km away
McAuley High School
Secondary (Year 9-15) · roll 780 · decile 1 · 3.4 km away
Kia Aroha Campus
Composite · roll 328 · decile 1 · 3.4 km away
Sutton Park School
Full Primary · roll 527 · decile 1 · 3.5 km away
Destiny School
Composite · roll 13 · decile 3 · 3.5 km away
Southern Cross Campus
Composite · roll 1661 · decile 1 · 3.6 km away
Mayfield School (Auckland)
Contributing · roll 283 · decile 1 · 3.6 km away
Pacific Advance Secondary School
Secondary (Year 9-15) · roll 156 · decile 1 · 3.7 km away
Jean Batten School
Contributing · roll 242 · decile 1 · 3.7 km away
Otahuhu School
Contributing · roll 537 · decile 1 · 3.7 km away
Te Kura Māori o Ngā Tapuwae
Composite · roll 328 · decile 1 · 3.9 km away
Wiri Central School
Full Primary · roll 350 · decile 1 · 3.9 km away
Mt Richmond School
Specialist School · roll 206 · decile 3 · 4.0 km away
Chapel Downs School
Contributing · roll 748 · decile 2 · 4.0 km away
Robertson Road School
Full Primary · roll 494 · decile 1 · 4.1 km away
Otahuhu Intermediate
Intermediate · roll 371 · decile 1 · 4.2 km away
Everglade School
Contributing · roll 469 · decile 4 · 4.3 km away
St Mary MacKillop Catholic School
Full Primary · roll 340 · decile 1 · 4.3 km away
Sancta Maria Catholic Primary School
Contributing · roll 372 · decile 5 · 4.5 km away
Manurewa High School
Secondary (Year 9-15) · roll 2414 · decile 1 · 4.7 km away
Sancta Maria College
Secondary (Year 7-15) · roll 1059 · decile 5 · 4.7 km away
Nga Iwi School
Contributing · roll 331 · decile 1 · 4.7 km away
Te Wharekura o Manurewa
Secondary (Year 9-15) · roll 79 · decile 1 · 4.7 km away
TKKM o Manurewa
Full Primary · roll 139 · decile 1 · 4.7 km away
Homai School
Contributing · roll 394 · decile 1 · 4.8 km away
Blind and Low Vision Education Network NZ
Specialist School · roll 78 · 4.8 km away
Rise UP Academy
Full Primary · roll 95 · decile 1 · 4.9 km away
Sir Douglas Bader Intermediate School
Intermediate · roll 288 · decile 1 · 4.9 km away
Favona School
Contributing · roll 270 · decile 2 · 4.9 km away
Koru School
Full Primary · roll 447 · decile 1 · 4.9 km away
Waatea School
Full Primary · roll 66 · decile 1 · 5.0 km away

Explore Papatoetoe

Things to do(49)

True Women's Gym

CityFitness

Jetts Fitness

Fikaa

F45 Training

WPerformance Gym

East Tamaki Rugby Football Club

Waenganui/Allenby Park

UFT Health and Fitness

Papatoetoe Softball Club

Allan Brewster Leisure Centre

Pack & Send Manukau City

Black Gunz indoor Paintball

Flex Fitness Manukau - 24Hour / 7day Gym

Chipmunks Playland & Café Manukau

Kohuora Park

Oliver MMA South Auckland

F45 Training Manukau

Hunua Falls

Jetts Botany Junction

St. George Bowls and Sports Club

Jetts Manukau

Papatoetoe AFC

Brown Pride NZ

True Woman's Fitness and Well-Being

BFT Papatoetoe

W Performance HQ

GKR Karate

The 37th Chambers

Albert School of Dancing

Papatoetoe Centennial Pool and Leisure Centre

The Renaissance School of Dance

Papatoetoe Boxing Club

Omana Park

Street Swing South Auckland

Bridge Fun Papatoetoe

Papatoetoe Rugby Football Club

Papatoetoe Recreation Ground

GymCity

Papatoetoe Tennis Club

ONE MORE REP Fitness

CityFitness Papatoetoe

Papatoetoe Hunters Corner Bowling Club

F45

Cockatoos Dance Studio

Hyper Stimulator NZ

Dragon's Spirit Taekwon-Do

Aaja Nachle Papatoetoe

Papatoetoe Cricket Club

Parks & green spaces(5)

Waenganui/Allenby Park

Kohuora Park

Hunua Falls

Omana Park

Papatoetoe Recreation Ground

Healthcare(12)

Kolmar Road Medical Centre

Papatoetoe Medical Centre

Health and Happiness (un) Ltd

One Care Family Medical Centre

Chemist Warehouse

Puhinui Pharmacy

Whanau Ora Community Clinic

Unichem

Papatotoe Medical Centre

Prohealth Pharmacy

Rangitoto Medical Centre

Month	High (°C)	Low (°C)	Rainfall (mm/day)	Sunshine (hrs/day)
☀️ Jan	23.19	17.05	7.02	9.85
☀️ Feb	23.06	15.93	5.89	10.3
🍂 Mar	20.75	13.65	3.1	10.04
🍂 Apr	19.82	13.65	3.66	8.6
🍂 May	17	11.22	4.22	7.5
❄️ Jun	15.64	9.61	3.27	7.34
❄️ Jul	14.5	8.51	3.41	7.34
❄️ Aug	14.57	7.22	2.78	8.08
🌸 Sep	16.23	10.31	4.29	9.38
🌸 Oct	17.49	11.3	3.12	10.06
🌸 Nov	19.28	12.65	3.2	10.78
☀️ Dec	22.18	15.5	4.13	11.22

Living in Papatoetoe

Is Papatoetoe a good place to live?

Map

Livability Breakdown

Property & Economics

Key Financial Indicators (NZD)

Nearby Suburbs

Frequently Asked Questions

Schools & Enrolment Zones in Papatoetoe

Schools in zone for Papatoetoe

Papatoetoe Central School

Papatoetoe Intermediate

Papatoetoe High School

Check your school zone

School Zone Checker

Other nearby schools

Holy Cross School (Papatoetoe)

Papatoetoe West School

Papatoetoe South School

Puhinui School

Papatoetoe East School

De La Salle College

Bairds Mainfreight Primary School

Papatoetoe North School

St John the Evangelist Catholic School

South Auckland S D A School

Kedgley Intermediate

Yendarra School

Aorere College

Te Hikoi Activity Centre

King's College

Ferguson Intermediate (Otara)

Flat Bush School

Moanaroa School

Wymondley Road School

Otahuhu College

TKKM o Piripono Te Kura Whakahou ki Ōtara

Māngere East School

East Tamaki School

Fairburn School

Rongomai School

Sir Edmund Hillary Collegiate Senior School

Sir Edmund Hillary Collegiate Junior School

Tangaroa College

Tangaroa College Teen Parent Unit

Sir Edmund Hillary Collegiate Middle School

Dawson School

Redoubt North School

St Joseph's School (Otahuhu)

McAuley High School

Kia Aroha Campus

Sutton Park School

Destiny School

Southern Cross Campus

Mayfield School (Auckland)

Pacific Advance Secondary School

Jean Batten School

Otahuhu School

Te Kura Māori o Ngā Tapuwae

Wiri Central School

Mt Richmond School

Chapel Downs School

Robertson Road School

Otahuhu Intermediate

Everglade School

St Mary MacKillop Catholic School

Sancta Maria Catholic Primary School

Manurewa High School

Sancta Maria College

Nga Iwi School

Te Wharekura o Manurewa

TKKM o Manurewa

Homai School

Blind and Low Vision Education Network NZ

Rise UP Academy

Sir Douglas Bader Intermediate School

Favona School

Koru School

Waatea School

Explore Papatoetoe

Things to do(49)

Parks & green spaces(5)

Healthcare(12)