Otara is famous for the Otara Market which showcases the Pacific influence within the community. Crafts, clothing, arts and food, food, food. Exciting, stimulating and guaranteed to be a fun morning of exposure to Pacific, Maori and Asian influences. The suburb supports the arts with the Otara Music Arts Centre and Fresh Gallery. Lion Brewery, based in Otara, employs a large number of people.
There is some shopping in Otara and Westfield Shopping Centre is not far for full access to a range of shops. Recreation facilities include Otara Pool and Leisure Centre, netball and basketball courts and several pockets of green space that allow for outdoor activities.
Home to Manukau Institute of Technology, Otara is a commercial and shopping hub with a rail link to greater Auckland and the Otara Bus Interchange. It brings a lot of students into the area and offers a tertiary educational experience to flow on from the many schools in the Auckland South area and further afield. From Otara, there is easy access to the Southern Motorway to travel either north or south.