but of less architectural merit. Traffic travelling to and from these suburbs and the centre of Auckland is largely funnelled through the roadways of Pakuranga which has degraded the area somewhat as well. Despite this today Pakuranga remains an attractive suburb, with some light industry, centred on the Pakuranga Town Centre 1965, the second built in New Zealand, now known as "The Plaza". The mall is the second mall of the modern age in New Zealand, incorporating Farmers and George Court department stores. The mall itself has been transformed several times since it first went up and retains little of the 1960s style it once had. The Te Tuhi Centre for the Arts is located nearby. Demographics Pakuranga covers and had an estimated population of as of with a population density of people per km2. Pakuranga had a population of 7,689 at the 2018 New Zealand census, an increase of 444 people (6.1%) since the 2013 census, and an increase of 1,113 people (16.9%) since the 2006 census. There were 2,418 households, comprising 3,798 males and 3,888 females, giving a sex ratio of 0.98 males per female, with 1,521 people (19.8%) aged under 15 years, 1,719 (22.4%) aged 15 to 29, 3,411 (44.4%) aged 30 to 64, and 1,035 (13.5%) aged 65 or older. Ethnicities were 44.4% European/Pākehā, 11.7% Māori, 13.2% Pacific peoples, 41.4% Asian, and 3.6% other ethnicities. People may identify with more than one ethnicity. The percentage of people born overseas was 48.0, compared with 27.1% nationally. Although some people chose not to answer the census's question about religious affiliation, 40.9% had no religion, 37.2% were Christian, 0.7% had Māori religious beliefs, 6.3% were Hindu, 3.4% were Muslim, 3.3% were Buddhist and 2.7% had other religions. Of those at least 15 years old, 1,494 (24.2%) people had a bachelor's or higher degree, and 993 (16.1%) people had no formal qualifications. 864 people (14.0%) earned over $70,000 compared to 17.2% nationally. The employment status of those at least 15 was that 3,225 (52.3%) people were employed full-time, 774 (12.5%) were part-time, and 213 (3.5%) were unemployed. Economy and amenities Pakuranga Plaza Pakuranga Plaza was established in 1965. It covers 28,000 m² with 1400 carparks. The plaza has 70 retailers, including Farmers, Countdown and The Warehouse. Museums Howick Historical Village is a recreation of a 19th century European settler village. It opened to the public in 1997. Te Tuhi, an