People might judge, but I'm cheating on my home town with a sunnier, more exciting city.

OPINION: Greer Berry recently wrote a love letter to Palmerston North, professing her newfound affection for a city that Kiwis scoff at, a place she named among the trifecta of "armpit towns" in New Zealand.

Although she didn't mention Auckland, it brought back memories of sneering friends who couldn't believe I had chosen to move to Auckland after an initial ski season in Mt Ruapehu.

I had just come here from Ireland, and, after a fun-filled three months of being a ski bum, the snow melted and I was faced with the daunting task of finding a "grown-up" job.



That was nearly five years ago, and aside from the fact my sister lived here, there was nothing keeping me in the city. But here I stayed.

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Read more:

* A love letter to Palmerston North

* Seeing NZ through the eyes of a tourist

* 20 things that surprise first-timers to NZ

Yes the traffic is terrible, the house prices are high and the disparity of wealth is stark. But for a young person starting my career, it's been my beloved home.

Do you love the part of Auckland you live in? Email your 250-word love letter to your suburb, plus a photo to soauckland@fairfaxmedia.co.nz

GETTY IMAGES This year's Auckland Lantern Festival in the Auckland Domain is just one of many events throughout the city.

THE LAND OF OPPORTUNITY



Just as some of my extended family fled Ireland's recession in the 1980s and moved to the United States, the same fate awaited my university friends and I when we finished our degrees in 2010.



The Celtic Tiger bubble had burst and there were thousands of graduates looking for work, each one scrambling for the next low-paid job or battling it out for unpaid internships (I heard 900 people had applied for one that I didn't get).



New Zealand, on the other hand, seemed to welcome young people with a good education and a hard-working attitude.



After a few months in National Park, I landed a job in my degree while there was still some snow on the peaks, and have been working ever since; something that probably would not have happened outside Auckland - and certainly not in Ireland.

OUTDOOR LIFESTYLE

I have climbed Rangitoto Island, kayaked around Okahu Bay, swung from trees in Woodhill Forest and trekked through the Waitakere Ranges.

123RF Waiheke is only a ferry ride away.

Yes, while Auckland lacks the dramatic South Island scenery, the City of Sails has its own distinct and diverse landscape.



Go west and you have the endless trails, waterfalls and wild, black-sand beaches. Head east and you'll end up at one of the calm city bays, perfect for an after-work swim.



And even though I'm not much of a surfer, I love a Sunday drive to Piha for the (hot) chips - the closest to a real chipper that I've found in New Zealand.



Some might complain that Auckland is too rainy but, I'm Irish... need I say more?

FESTIVALS AND EVENTS

It was at this year's lantern festival, celebrating Chinese New Year that it struck me how lucky I am to be living in Auckland.

AISLING O'SULLIVAN Clearly loving life at the Gay Pride Parade in Ponsonby.

The evening was balmy and people were milling around, admiring the intricate lanterns set out at the free event in The Domain. It feels like every week there is a new event or festival taking place, with my Facebook feed constantly filled with suggestions of what to do.

From the Seafood Festival to Street Eats, from the Colour Run to Round the Bays, from Writers' Week to Artweek, there is never time to get bored.

FOOD, FOOD, FOOD

AISLING O'SULLIVAN A secluded spot along a Karekare trail.

Having grown up on a traditional, meat and two vegetables diet, and although I'll always say my mother's cooking is the best, it was when I came to Auckland that my foodie horizon expanded massively.

Although I have yet to master chopsticks, it was here that I first tasted sushi (and became hooked) and where my avocado obsession began. I've discovered the magic of brunch with literally hundreds of cafes to choose from in the city centre and suburbs.

Fancy tapas while I eat Mexican? Go to Elliot Stables. Want two dozen dumplings? Head to Dominion Road. Wanna go wine-tasting? Hop on a ferry to Waiheke. Or simply just hang with the hipsters in Ponsonby Central.

The city's bays are great for a quick swim after work.

MULTI-CULTURISM AND OPEN-MINDEDNESS

You've heard it all before, Auckland is truly a melting pot of cultures, where we celebrate everyone from the Pasifika Festival to the St Patrick's Day parade, Diwali and Chinese New Year.

But what does that mean? To me, it means feeling welcome and at home when I'm thousands of kilometres from family.

JOHN HAWKINS The annual colour run is a fun day out.

When people hear my accent, they ask where I'm from with genuine kindness and curiosity, something that I've encountered throughout the country.

So while my heart remains at home, in Dublin, I'm happy to continue my love affair with Auckland.

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