Walking through the door of her new Waiata Shores home, Michelle Kroef knew she had made the right decision.
“It was the best place for me and my daughter,” she said. “I just feel so safe here.”
Recently separated and already settled in South Auckland, Kroef wanted stability and security for herself and her 16-year-old daughter, Kourtney.
She moved into the three-bedroom duplex in September and says it felt like home almost immediately.
Start your property search
“I was looking at Waiata Shores and Park Green,” she said. “They’re both great areas. But Waiata Shores just really attracted me. You’ve got so much around you, and I knew a few people who’d already bought here.”
Kroef was familiar with the land long before houses emerged. Her former husband used to play golf there when it was still the Manukau Golf Club.
Construction began in 2016, transforming fairways first laid out in 1932 into a neighbourhood designed around open space and walkability. Mature trees remain, and Te Waituarua Reserve now anchors the landscape.
“It’s always been a sought-after area,” Kroef said. “Now it’s a proper community.”
That cohesion was intentional.
“We wanted Waiata Shores to feel complete, not like a collection of houses,” said Ian Craig, Fletcher Living’s master-planning manager.
Greenways now connect more than 600 homes to parks, playgrounds and local shops. It’s the difference between a subdivision and a masterplanned neighbourhood – one designed to feel established from day one.
“It doesn’t feel like a new subdivision. It feels settled,” said Kroef, who works as a home ownership manager for ASB.
“There are several parks you can take kids to. We’re close to the beach, and there’s a lovely path you can walk along. If you like to get active, you can walk from Waiata Shores to Karaka and back.”
Kroef’s home is a three-bedroom, two-and-a-half-bathroom duplex.
“With a teenager at home, I certainly didn’t want to share a bathroom,” she laughed. “I’ve got an ensuite. My daughter has her own bathroom. It ticked all the boxes.”
Outside, tiled entertaining space, turf and a compact garden keep maintenance low.
“It’s kind of lock-and-leave. It’s just perfect.”
She laughs that the house still feels so new she does not even want pets. “It’s just too tidy,” she said.
At the entrance sit a Woolworths supermarket, pharmacy and cafes, putting everyday essentials within walking distance. A childcare centre and medical centre with radiology and dental services are also on site.
One of Kroef’s favourite weekend spots is Songbird Cafe.
“I quite often go there,” she said. “The granola is to die for.”
Owner Amit Luthra arrived when the development was still taking shape.
“We opened when maybe 10% of the homes were built,” he said. “There wasn’t another cafe around, but the playground was here and I thought this would be a great spot for families.”
“People are friendly. They know each other,” Luthra said. “You see people out with dogs, prams, scooters. It’s how a neighbourhood should feel.”
Waiata Shores sits about 5km from Manukau City Centre and 27km from Auckland’s CBD, with direct access to the Southern Motorway. Te Mahia Train Station is within walking distance.
“I’m so central to everything around here,” Kroef said. “It’s really convenient.”
Kourtney attends Rosehill College and moves easily between home, school and friends.
Beyond location, the neighbourhood’s sense of connection stands out. A residents’ WhatsApp group keeps neighbours in touch, and cameras at entry points add reassurance.
“Everyone communicates. People look out for one another. It’s such a lovely, warm community,” she said. “As a separated woman, safety was definitely something that played on my mind.”
“I love it here,” she said. “We’re very blessed.”
Late March will see the release of Waiata Shores’ final waterfront homes and to celebrate, Fletcher Living is hosting a free, family-friendly open day.
Visitors can explore the last homes available by the water, tour the new showhomes and meet the team behind the development, while getting a feel for the vibrant neighbourhood that has taken shape in Conifer Grove over the past decade.
Guests can enjoy a sausage sizzle, popcorn and coffee, along with entertainment for kids and giveaways throughout the day.
Event details:
· Date: Saturday 28 March, 2026
· Time: 11am – 2pm
· Location: 121 Waituarua Drive, Conifer Grove (opposite Te Waituarua Reserve playground)
Parking is limited within the development, with overflow parking available on surrounding streets. Visitors are encouraged to follow event signage on arrival. More info: www.fletcherliving.co.nz/locations/auckland/waiata-shores
