Waitakere City is a local authority area that forms the western part of the Auckland. Colloquially it is referred to as West Auckland and its inhabitants as Westies. Waitakere City has an area of 367km2, with the urban area being 25.8km2, and a population of nearly 200,000. In the reigion 71.9% of people are of European decent, 14.5% of Pacific Island, 11.0% Asian and 11.0% Maori, with 68% born in New Zealand. English is spoken by just about all residents, but around 5% of people also speak Samoan and a similar amount speak Maori. Employment The average annual wage for a Waitakere resident is $20,800, higher than the national average of $18,500. 28.9% of people have some form of tertiary education, but 26.6% leave school with no formal qualifications, these are both lower than national averages. Unemployment is currently running at about 8.3%. The majority of the population who work in Waitakere work in manufacturing around 10% or so, followed by retail at around 8%. Waitakere City is best seen by car. Although buses and trains do service the area, many are slow and serve those living in the suburbs as opposed to those looking to see the sights. Information on public transport can be found at MAXX Auckland Regional Transport, it allows you to select bus, train or ferry and so help to plan an itinerary. If you are only visiting Auckland or the North Island, Waitakere offers many of the the native delights, such as trees, bushes and flowers that make New Zealand unique. Waitakere City houses some of New Zealands best wineries. These can be found in two main areas, Henderson Valley and Kumeu. In summer, on weekends, these will be packed with those looking to sit in the sun, have a bottle of wine and a relaxed late lunch. On Sundays Pleasant Valley on Henderson Valley road can be a good afternoon, often having live music. Other Vineyards in the area include Delagats and Montana, although these are much harder to find and do not have regular food service. Another Mic...