Auckland is confused, contradictory PART 2

Auckland is confused, contradictory and occasionally cranky. It’s also unruly, brash and noisy. Now we should really balance that and say something disparaging. But the reality is it has a touch of the Big Apple. It isn’t ‘perfectly formed’ like Christchurch, nor does it have Sydney’s sense of self. It’s a place for politicking, polytechs and Polynesians. And at last count about 70,000 Chinese.

Auckland is Farmers’ Santa parade, Long Bay, Round the Bays, Otara market, Rangitoto, Queen Street, Shortland Street, K’ Road, Piha, One Tree Hill, Christmas in the Park. And Eden Park. The ground where Peter Jones told the nation he was buggered and where New Zealand won its first cricket test. For a while it was home to the America’s Cup. And it will be again. Auckland is New Zealand’s economic capital. John Logan Campbell had something to do with that. So did Michael Fay. But then he went away. So did Doug Myers, Craig Heatley and Alan Gibbs. Ngati Whatua didn’t go away; they’ve been here since the early 1700s. They belong.

On the days that you can see forever Auckland is breath-taking. It flaunts its beauty without effort and guilelessly seduces you into believing that heaven is on earth. Auckland can be sliced and diced in so many ways. It is multi-layered and never dull. Auckland is on its way to becoming something great – and most probably always will be. That’s not a bad thing. Auckland deserves to be feted, toasted, lauded, and acclaimed because it’s our place.