A2Z is probably my favourite dollar store in the mall, simply because they sell some pretty good…read morestuff and the staff here great. On my last-minute shopping trips to pick up ribbon, crepe paper or something similar I usually stop by here. The prices are awesome and a little cheaper than similar stores in the mall. It's quite a big store too, with two sets of aisles (front and back of the store), with the back wall just filled with children's toys. They're not the best quality but what you'd expect given the cheap price. There are great little knick knacks here for stocking fillers, prank gifts or that difficult Secret Santa gift for your co-worker. These things take a bit of a hunt through the store to find though, so I'd suggest a couple of extra minutes out of your shopping time to see what you can find. In all my experiences here, the staff have been awesome. If you're in a rush and don't have time to look for what you're after, they'll know exactly what aisle and where to find it. I've found this to be pretty rare in retail these days.

David's emporium is your one stop shop for everything! Here they have tools, paint, art supplies,…read morecrafts, material, nick-nacks, appliances, wigs and my favourite.....dress-ups! It's at David's you are able to find anything and everything suitable for a party, or if you're after something on the cheap. Located on Cavendish Drive in Manukau, it's only really convenient if you're in the area. There is plenty of onsite parking available. I have been here a number of times to pick up bits and pieces with my boyfriend, who is really in to art. He finds that they always have great sales on their canvases, sketch books and cheap paint brushes that he might need for touching up. Here I have managed to purchase lint rollers and a foot exfoliator, both of these cost next to nothing, I was very impressed.

Any vintage or retro lover out there knows that to get the real deals, you've got to leave the…read morecity. To find quality vintage at cut price items can be a chore, but it's made all that more enjoyable if the little places you visit are clean, well laid out and staffed by friendly volunteers; Papatoetoe's hospice shop is all of the above. The shop is often inhabited by a lot of older people who bring clothes in and take more out, I think it's only fair to warn you that there is a large contingent of Miller's shirts in this store... much like there is in many other stores of this nature! The Miller brand isn't always the most desirable pick for a vintage shopper, but if you can dig through the collared nightmares, there are gems to be found. Amazing dresses, skirts and shorts for just a few bucks each. And because it's out of the hipster radius of 10km from the city, there's always plenty of vintage/retro stuff to choose from.

The reviews from 2013 might have been accurate for the time…read more But coming to you from 2015, this place is rockin'! Not going to give it the full five stars because it's not the cheapest or nicest looking store around. I expect cheaper prices as the place gets drabby-errrr. But that is by no means a reason not to go, just initially misleading. The place is much more organized than what I read, even has a 16+ section which is nice. Also note, the men's section is microscopic, even considering the smaller sizes of men's sections at charity shops, it's almost overlooked. But for women, it's great. They have a sale rack out side, a $2 rack indoors, 50 cent table, boutique or price-ier items section, intimates and swim separated out and in baskets of different quality and prices: glorious. The selection is wide in style and in size. I found basics I was looking for, like black leggings, and ridiculous cocktail dresses that I would't find anywhere else. The ladies working there were extremely friendly and on top of making sure the people milling about the place got what they needed. They were really nice to one girl shopping there, helping her in the fitting room and encouraging her fashion sense, which, coming from snobby-mall culture, I appreciate. They were having a 30% off day when I went which made everything even more of a bargain than the tag prices. I spent $24 and got a cocktail dress, nice black stylized leggings, a velvet+sheer shirt, two bras and maroon tights. The girl who rung my up was sweet, funny, talked to me about clothes, gave me tips of other charity shops around and was just great. Maybe not 5 star status, but this place is awesome. Should totally be a must on your thrift-list through Auckland.

No doubt a good place to find some good second hand deals, but I personally found the layout of…read morethis store absolutely claustrophobic and dizzying. It was really hard to keep up with sizes and different items of clothing, as it was all very mixed up. They have some more expensive items out the back if you're seeking a discounted ball dress or two. Yet I could find nothing in my size, because I guess the store assistants would rather natter to each other than organize them into appropriate sizes, or colours, or something! It's a sanguine's room in there without the decency of a bed. If you just want a deal, and you don't mind spending countless time sifting through racks and racks of clothes, then great! If you'd like a more efficient experience, perhaps a Cotton On Outlet down the road will do?

This was our first visit here so did not know what to expect. You can get lots of poplar brands of…read morefood & drink here a cheaper than supermarket cost. The dates seem to be quite short dated so check before you purchase. We spotted some bulk size bags of frozen vegetables, so could be useful for small catering purposes. Maybe worth popping in from time to time to see what bargains can be had.

Great stock, American brands, amazing prices, all discounted below what it would normally cost in…read moreother stores. They have a good loyalty programme and you get discounts on your birthday. The staff are so good- friendly, knowledgeable and so helpful. They have the best priced Dickies I have seen also.They also have American snack food- yummy.

The Warehouse in Manukau has seen a couple of renovations happen over the last few years, my…read morefavourite being their Film, TV and Books section- finally a little order in that place! While there are a few more branches close by now, this one is still the busiest from what I can tell, and much easier to navigate yourself through the store. It is what it is; a massive store selling just about anything and everything. It's my favourite branch because its close to home and doesn't really try to be anything but what it is. It's full of bargains and they seem to highlight these a lot more than other Warehouse branches, at least in my observations. There's usually great deals on DVDs and fragrances, and this place goes mad when there's a great sale on. I suffer from terrible hayfever, but I've had to endure going to the greenhouse here. It's a great addition and pretty popular too! The prices here are great and my family has gone with a few new houseplants on several occasions. The other great part about The Warehouse is The Hollywood bakery that sits in the foyer. It's not the best Hollywood Bakery BUT it's great to sit down and have a bite to eat on a Saturday morning after some shopping here, or even to pick up one of their awesome thickshakes. The Girl Guides are here just outside the building every year selling their amazing biscuits, I go here every year just for these!

I think Foot Locker is pretty great. Apart from being a terribly common shoe size, I like coming in…read morehere to check out what's new. While I prefer shopping online, it definitely pays to see something in person, especially with sneakers and shoes in general. Foot Locker always does pretty well with footwear and I like the range of women's shoes here. There are some awesome colours, some a little too adventurous for my taste, but still great to look at. I'm probably one to go to Foot Locker for a more casual shoe like the Chuck Taylor, but they do offer great quality athletic shoes in different brands, so there's lots to choose from. Foot Locker seems pretty limited in their clothing. They do excellent tees, and usually have good deals on these. However, as far as official team merchandise goes (NBA for example), there's not much on offer. They've got a handful of sportswear clothing for men and women but that's about it. It isn't the biggest Foot Locker store I've visited, so limited space could be the case. If you join the Foot Locker loyalty club you get 10% off every full-priced purchase, and any discount is a good discount. Really handy if you're a regular and just to have on hand when you need it. Foot Locker is awesome for footwear but I'd suggest elsewhere for clothing.

Compared to Sylvia Park, I really like the layout of Westfield Manukau; its much easier to walk…read morearound, and while not as big, has the basics necessities of any shopping centre. Its also the closest major shopping centre to the Papakura and the Pukekohe regions. Events are always happening here, whether its a magic show, talent show or a musical guest- major props to Westfield for that and for making parents a little less stressed by having something to distract the kids with! Parking here is usually pretty good with parking lots surrounding all entrances of the mall, but fills up quickly especially on late nights and weekends. Apart from clothing retailers, there are also a number stores for footwear, stationery/books, electronics, jewellery and novelty items. Some great places worth visiting include Pandora, one of the newest in the mall and extremely popular- lots to look at for the ladies; JB Hi-Fi, a tech- and TV-geek's dream destination; and LJ's, because they really do make the best fries in the mall. Manukau caters pretty well in terms of menswear, but lacking a bit in womenswear. Without stores like Max or Portmans for a slightly higher-end option (as opposed to Dotti or Cotton On), there just aren't as many options as there were a few years ago.

It's not the biggest or best shopping mall in town, but it has all the usual suspects and more…read more This is my nearest mall, so I often visit here and see what new shops have opened or if any bargains going. I visit more often as the cinema has a bigger choice than my local. one.

If you are in Auckland on a Saturday morning, one of the most unique things to check out is the…read moreOtara Polynesia Market, located just a 15-minute drive from the Auckland International Airport. This market is held only on Saturdays and is open from 6 AM to 12 PM. While there is plenty of fresh produce for sale, there is so much more to this market. You'll find rows of food stalls with local Polynesian island favorites as well as Maori hangi (meat and various sides cooked in an underground oven). And if you're into shopping, this is your spot. You will find gorgeous carvings and artwork that will likely be the cheapest you'll find anywhere in the country. I lived in New Zealand and this was one of my favorite weekend spots.

This famous market South of Auckland stock great Maori, Samoan, Tongan and Niue arts and craft ,…read morehowever a worthy mention must go to a recent fixture, a clothing stall called 'House of Harem'. The friendly Aeryn has consistently gone out of her way to help me find that 'exact' unique item of clothing, particularly harem pants funnily enough, (although the beautiful silk or satin dresses and skirts are stunning too). These harem pants are great as gifts as they are one size fits most, 8-18 she assures me, and come in an array of textures and patterns... actually I am wearing some right now...