thanks for all the help! this really made up my mind. I am from south africa, so needless to say safety is our first concern. We live in a security controlled area(access through one main gate, controlled by armed response) and love the modern houses we have seen in howick and dannemora!!!! Just our cup of tea. As I will be working in Mangere and the OH propably in the CBD, it seems pretty central for both of us. We don't mind traveling a bit, and traffic is not that bad. In south africa I work 13 km from our house and it takes me 30 min to travel! OH works approx 8 km from home and it takes him 45 min to get to work. I live in edenvale and its part of ekuruleni municipality and we are around 2.5 milion people traveling to work daily!