Suburban diversity works

What do you like best about living in Kingsland?

I think one good thing about the gentrification of suburbs is that you end up with a diverse range of people sharing space together. How long have you lived here and where are you originally from?

I was born in Christchurch, studied in Wellington and have lived here for two and a bit years. What do you like least and how can we fix it?

I would have loved but can only dream of buying a house here. I don’t know much about economic solutions – all I know is impossible. Where’s the best place to buy dinner in your area?

The Ponsonby International Foodcourt is so good, especially with a group of friends. You don’t have to decide one type of food that everybody agrees on. And it is super cheap. And who does the best fish’n’chips?

There’s a fish’n’chip shop up in Grey Lynn that still sells $1.50 scoops of chips. And the chicken fried rice there is something like $7.80 which is insanely cheap. They are open late too which reminds me of being a student in Wellington. Who is the Kiwi you admire most – and why?

Russel Norman (who

that’s

completely

I would class as a Kiwi). I watch him on InTheHouseNZ on YouTube a lot. I feel like he slogs away in Parliament trying to make New Zealand a better place for a lot of us and is laughed off the mic. Then the next day he is back trying again. If I was Auckland’s mayor I’d . . .

Fast-track the plans for railways and slow down the plans for motorways. That will probably stop a lot of people reading here. I think it is false to build more roads just because people like to drive. I think people drive because it’s the best option for them right now. The rail to the airport should be first. It’s a nightmare getting out there. When I’ve got a free few hours I like to . . .

Catch a train into the city and write plays or film scripts in a random cafe. The spot in Auckland I’d recommend to tourists is . . .

I have only been to Piha once but it was insane. The power of those waves is something I would recommend tourists experience.

– Tom Eason is in Dust Pilgrim playing at Q Theatre until June 13.