Last updated October 2026
Totara Heights is a residential suburb in South Auckland, set among rolling ground east of Wiri and south of Goodwood Heights. It sits close to the large open spaces of Tōtara Park and the Auckland Botanic Gardens, giving the area a green, family-oriented character.
Developed mainly from the late 1970s as part of wider Manurewa East growth, the suburb mixes established homes with more recent housing. Residents and visitors find easy motorway links, nearby shopping at Manukau, and walking access into native bush and parkland. The name reflects the tōtara trees that once characterised the landscape and still appear in remnant stands nearby.
Official Suburb Facts
- Population (2023 Census)
- About 2,770, up 10% since 2018
- Land area
- 0.87 km² (87 ha)
- Location
- 21.0 km south-east of central Auckland
- Council
- Auckland Council
- Neighbouring suburbs
- Goodwood Heights, The Gardens, Wiri, Hillpark
- Ward or local board
- Manurewa-Papakura ward; Manurewa Local Board
- Getting there
- Reached via Everglade Drive and connecting local roads from Redoubt Road and Hill Road corridors; quick access to the Southern and South-Western Motorways. Bus services link to Manukau and beyond; Homai and Manukau train stations provide rail connections toward the city centre.
- Main shopping
- Westfield Manukau City and the nearby Manukau Supa Centre (large-format retail) a short drive away; limited local convenience retail within the suburb itself.
- Schools
- Everglade Primary School (in zone for many residents), Manurewa Intermediate, Manurewa High School, and St Anne’s Catholic Primary School; early childhood centres also serve the area.
- Nearby landmarks
- Tōtara Park, Auckland Botanic Gardens, Manukau city centre precinct, Vector Wero Whitewater Park (nearby)
Who Lives in Totara Heights
About 2,770 residents in 810 households. From the 2023 Census, with the New Zealand figure alongside for comparison.
About Totara Heights
Totara Heights occupies elevated ground in the Manurewa area of South Auckland. It lies south of Goodwood Heights, east of the industrial and commercial zones around Wiri, and north of The Gardens.
The suburb is framed by substantial public open space: the expansive Tōtara Park immediately adjacent and the Auckland Botanic Gardens a short distance away. This setting gives many streets a sense of proximity to bush, pasture-style parkland and walking tracks rather than continuous urban density.
The name draws on the tōtara (Podocarpus totara), a native tree once common in the district. Remnant stands and regenerating native forest remain a feature of the adjoining park.
Residential development accelerated in the 1970s when Manukau City Council pursued greenfields growth east of Manurewa. Subdivisions that became Totara Heights and neighbouring Goodwood Heights preserved more mature native bush than many contemporary South Auckland projects. Everglade Drive later linked the two suburbs.
Housing stock ranges from late-twentieth-century family homes to more recent terrace, duplex and standalone dwellings, including a Fletcher Living neighbourhood of nearly one hundred homes that backs onto parkland. Streets such as Eugenia Rise include a local playground. The overall feel is quiet and residential, with daily needs met largely by short drives to Manukau’s retail and service centres.
For visitors, the suburb functions as a base for exploring the large parks on its doorstep rather than as a destination with its own commercial strip. For people considering living here, the combination of green space, school options and motorway access is the main draw, alongside a diverse community typical of South Auckland.
Getting Around
Local roads including Everglade Drive form the main internal network and connect north toward Goodwood Heights and the Redoubt Road corridor. Motorway on-ramps for the Southern Motorway and South-Western Motorway are only a few minutes’ drive, supporting commuting toward the city centre, airport and other parts of Auckland.
Public transport relies on bus routes that feed Manukau and the wider network, plus rail from Homai Station (toward Britomart via Newmarket) and Manukau Station (via Panmure). Walking and cycling are practical for short trips into Tōtara Park and the Botanic Gardens, though longer journeys usually need a car or public transport.
Getting Outdoors
The defining outdoor asset is Tōtara Park, a large council park with native bush tracks, bridle trails, open grassed areas, picnic facilities, courts, an adventure playground and swimming pools. Tracks through tōtara forest and along stream margins suit easy walks of roughly 20 to 60 minutes; mountain biking and horse riding are also provided for in designated areas.
Access points include Wairere Road and Everglade Drive. From parts of Totara Heights, including near Eugenia Rise, it is a short walk into the park and onward toward the Auckland Botanic Gardens, which offer extensive planted collections, native forest and free public entry. Together these spaces give the suburb a strong recreation focus without requiring long travel.
History and Heritage
Before suburban development the land formed part of the wider rural and bush landscape of South Auckland. Manukau City Council acquired the large Totara Park estate in the mid-1960s for public open space, preserving bush and farm character beside what would become residential neighbourhoods. In the mid-to-late 1970s the council and private developers opened greenfields subdivisions that became Totara Heights and adjacent suburbs.
Contemporary accounts note that these projects retained more mature native trees than many other South Auckland housing areas of the period. Road links such as the southward extension of Everglade Drive in the 1980s tied the new streets together.
The suburb has remained primarily residential, with later infill and a recent master-planned housing cluster reinforcing its family-suburb role beside the parks.
Near Totara Heights
Just outside Totara Heights, within 10 km of its centre, nearest first.
Places
Businesses
Where to Learn More
Wikipedia: Totara Heights: concise overview of location, local board and basic geography.
Auckland Council: Manurewa Local Board: official local board information, plans and contacts for the area that includes Totara Heights.
Auckland Council: Tōtara Park: park facilities, tracks, access points and recreation details for the large open space adjoining the suburb.
Frequently Asked Questions
Where is Totara Heights in Auckland?
Totara Heights is a South Auckland suburb in the Manurewa Local Board area. It lies south of Goodwood Heights, east of Wiri and north of The Gardens, roughly 21 km from the city centre.
What local board covers Totara Heights?
It falls under the Manurewa Local Board and the Manurewa-Papakura ward of Auckland Council.
What schools serve Totara Heights?
Many residents are in zone for Everglade Primary School. Intermediate and secondary options include Manurewa Intermediate and Manurewa High School; St Anne’s Catholic Primary School is also available. Early childhood centres operate nearby.
Is Totara Heights close to parks?
Yes. Tōtara Park borders the suburb and offers bush walks, bridle trails, playgrounds, pools and open space. The Auckland Botanic Gardens are a short walk or drive away.
How do you get to Totara Heights by public transport?
Buses connect the area with Manukau and the wider network. Homai and Manukau train stations provide rail services toward the city centre. A car is convenient for most local trips and motorway access.
Where do residents shop?
Westfield Manukau City and the Manukau Supa Centre are a short drive away and supply major retail, food and services. The suburb itself is mainly residential with limited local shops.
What is the origin of the name Totara Heights?
The name refers to the native tōtara tree and the elevated ground of the area. Remnant and regenerating tōtara forest remains a feature of the adjoining park.
Is Totara Heights a good base for visitors?
It suits visitors who want quiet residential streets next to large parks and gardens, with easy access to Manukau amenities and the motorway network. It is not a commercial tourist hub in its own right.
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Explore Auckland only lists suburbs officially recognised by Land Information New Zealand (LINZ), and Totara Heights is one of them. Suburb boundary: LINZ, CC BY 4.0.