Mt Roskill's changing face

Public officials, community groups and commentators believe Mt Roskill has taken as much new settlement as it can.

The suburb has been popular over the past decade for its relatively affordable housing and closeness to the city centre.

RMS Refugee Resettlement national coordinator Jenni Broom says people have to live where they can afford to.

"Because of pressure on housing in the central city and around Mt Roskill, very few refugees are settling there," Ms Broom says.

"It was a very desirable place for refugees to live but they have accepted that their communities need to develop in other areas of Auckland."

Over the past two years, RMS has resettled a number of Afghanis further afield - in Waitakere, North Shore, central, east and south.

"Refugee resettlement is occuring all around the city in areas where housing is available," says Ms Broom.

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