First Person is a weekly Radio New Zealand podcast series by John Campbell - @JohnJCampbell

Nicole is a mother of five. Last week she worked 76 hours, many of them while her children slept.

"I've got to do it" she says.

She dreams of buying a house and is determined to inspire her children by working her way up.

"Every day it's a struggle to get up. Every day it's physically draining. But I have to. I have to."

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Photo: RNZ / Diego Opatowski

Teina works as a butcher in Auckland and earns almost $5 an hour more than the minimum wage, but he still runs out of money on the day he's paid.

“"Pay day is broke day," he says ruefully.

Lily's on the minimum wage; $14.75 an hour.

"We have four people in our house working full time and it's still hard to get by."

Photo: RNZ / Diego Opatowski

After almost two years with the same company, Tracy's still on the minimum wage. To save on rent she lives in Pukekohe and catches two trains to work. She worries she'll never own a home.

With Auckland's median house price now in the region of $730,000, New Zealand's largest city is also one of the most expensive property markets in the world.

Which may be fantastic, if you're well paid and already on the property ladder.

But what if you're not? We're often told that a job is the key to making your way up in the world.

But how are workers on lower wages getting by in Auckland?

This podcast, recorded over two days in Manukau, provides an answer.