Three of New Zealand’s suburbs, including one from the Bay of Plenty, have been named finalists in Trade Me Property’s People’s Choicest Awards – a chance to celebrate everyday life in New Zealand.

The awards have seven categories: Choicest Suburb, Playground, Bush (shrub or tree), Dairy, Public Toilet, Landmark and Local Legend.

The finalists, Morrinsville in the Waikato, Pāpāmoa in the Bay of Plenty and Southshore in Christchurch, were chosen from public nominations which closed on December 29.

Voting opened yesterday, Tuesday, January 14, and runs until February 14. Votes can be made on the Trade Me website at https://www.trademe.co.nz/c/promo/peoples-choicest-voting

Trade Me Property customer director Gavin Lloyd said it’s awesome to see the regions coming through strongly in the inaugural awards.

“We weren’t quite sure what was going to emerge to win the hearts of Kiwi but all three of these suburbs have a strong sense of community and close proximity to nature so it’s really no surprise that they’ve come out on top.

“Last year we looked at the most popular suburbs in Auckland, Wellington and Christchurch by searches on Trade Me, but the People’s Choicest has revealed that the best places to live in Aotearoa as nominated by Kiwi are by and large not in our central cities.”

Waikato Cow Town is the centre of everything

“This is dairying country and there are allegedly more cows in a 10km radius of Morrinsville than anywhere else in the world,” said Lloyd.

That’s not even counting the life-size cow sculptures dotted throughout the town, a nod to the area’s dairying prowess, or the 6.5m tall Mega Cow statue welcoming visitors at the southern entrance of the town. Morrinsville’s town slogan? Cream of the Country.

Morrinsville. Photo / supplied

“With a population of just under 10,000, Morrinsville is set to grow by another 1500 people once the 150ha Lockerbie Estate development is complete. This includes the Lockerbie Retirement Village and a new residential area,” said Lloyd.

“Everything in the township is within walking distance and Morrinsville (Mōrena) is the centre of the Waikato universe, just 20-30 minutes' drive from Hamilton, Cambridge, Matamata, and Te Aroha.”

With beautiful old architecture, walks along the Piako River or the impressive 18-hole golf course with mature trees and a lake on the edge of town, this town has everything going for it. With the average house price $810,350 it’s also a popular place for people relocating for country life.

Coast with the Most in the heart of Christchurch

Southshore (Te Kōrero Karoro) is a 2.5km narrow sandspit nestled between the estuary and the ocean, delivering views of both sunrise and sunset.

The beach here is vast, wild, and dog-friendly, and once, after a high tide, the shore turned bright pink from millions of whale krill washed ashore. Every year, godwits make the long journey from Alaska to this coastal paradise, and seals and penguins frequently visit the area.

Southshore. Photo / supplied

“Neighbouring popular Brighton, Southshore offers a small, community-focused vibe within the heart of a larger city. It’s said that new residents are greeted with a goodie bag on arrival, and it’s not uncommon for neighbours to leave fresh produce on each other’s doorsteps,” said Lloyd.

Southshore. Photo / supplied

“Home to just over 1000 people, Southshore regularly hosts events like the community picnic, Halloween celebrations, Matariki, along with a proactive Residents Association which all contribute to a strong local spirit.”

Life’s a beach in Tauranga boomtown

Pāpāmoa (Te Rae o Pāpāmoa) is New Zealand’s answer to the Gold Coast, with a 16km long white sandy beach and a wealthy and sorted community. With a population of 37,800, it’s the Tauranga region’s largest and fastest-growing town, with the average house costing around $968,800.

“The area is home to shopping hubs like Pāpāmoa Plaza and Coast Pāpāmoa, but soon, it will also see the arrival of the Sands - a $1 billion town centre currently under development in Pāpāmoa East,” said Lloyd.

“Scheduled for completion in 2026, the precinct already has a New World supermarket and planned retail outlets, a health hub, government services, community facilities, and an aquatic centre.”

Pāpāmoa. Photo / supplied

Schools and community activities bring people together here and it’s an easy 20- 30 minute commute to Tauranga for work.

The stunning beach stretches from the Kaituna River in the east to Mount Maunganui in the west. It’s a haven for dog walkers, with an off-leash area extending from south of Moturiki Island (Leisure Island) to Pāpāmoa East, available year-round.

Inland, you’ll find Pāpāmoa Hills Regional Park, with panoramic views of the Bay of Plenty, Tauranga, and as far as Mount Maunganui. A network of walking tracks, including a climb to a historic Māori pā site at the summit, attracts plenty of day trippers and serious hikers.

The summers are warm, the winters mild and the area provides great surf --mellow waves for beginners as well as bigger swells for experienced surfers.

“With a small-scale urban vibe, vibrant coffee culture, abundant amenities, and natural beauty, Pāpāmoa truly offers the best of both worlds,” said Lloyd.