Southside stories

South Auckland has long been stigmatised. Local identity COLLEEN BROWN talks to community leaders working to change the narrative.

- COLLEEN BROWN

Southside, the local name for South Auckland, has a distinct vibe and identity that sets it apart from the rest of New Zealand. It is young, colourful, energetic, proud and home to more than 350,000 people of every imaginable culture.

Systemic issues based on poverty, poorly paid jobs and low educational attainment have stalked the region for decades. Prejudices about communities are hard to shift. Fixing poverty is a relentless struggle. The region appears an easy target.

But ask any Southsider, and chances are they take great exception to outsiders making damning comments about their community. They have long memories, and politicians such as National leader Christopher Luxon will be judged. Asked last December about what was driving youth crime, he said: "If you're sitting in a garage in South Auckland with your two brothers and you're thinking about life and where you're going, consciously or unconsciously, the gang life looks pretty attractive.

"They are the people who have got the money, got all the bling, flash cars and that looks incredibly attractive."

The remark stung. It was a very focused reference about the Southside community and the prospects of its young people. There was an immediate response as photos of garages adapted for every possible use exploded onto social media. Poorer communities can be easy targets for a derisive political sound bite. Despite a swift apology from Luxon, those comments still rankle six months later. Southside doesn't forget.

"When politicians talk about us dismissively, for us it's a form of micro-aggression," says Fitz, a community leader and owner of a barber's business. "They use South Auckland as a scapegoat.

"There are many wonderful people here; it puts them all down. At the same time, I don't care, because I can still carry on with my life. We have great things happening here."