I stayed at Freeman's Lodge in Freeman's Bay, Auckland New Zealand for about 2 weeks whilst looking for an apartment of my own. As I wasn't sure when I'd be leaving, I was apprehensive about having a rolling timeframe, but the staff were very accommodating, allowing me to pay for a few days at a time, as well as keep the same room I was in.
The Lodge is very clean and tidy, the dorm rooms large and airy, and the shared living areas and grounds very well maintained, especially considering how cheap the rooms are. In fact, I'd have to say it's the cleanest backpackers I've ever stayed at.
There are no meals provided, although it has two kitchens for people to cook their own meals.
The place is located close to Auckland city, K' Road for your bars and clubs, and Ponsonby Rd for fashion and more upmarket places, so you're never short of things to do, and there is a "dairy" (mini-mart) close distance as well so you can buy your own food and drinks.

To quote the Loney Planet: "Invariably the backpackers who leave with a bad impression of Auckland have stayed in crummy, noisy hostels in the city centre." To test this, I stayed in Auckland in Base, Frienz.com, YHA International and Freemans Lodge. Not only does Freemans Lodge beat all these hostels in the city center hands down, it has also been one of the best hostels I've visited in 2 months in New Zealand. Thick mattresses, free internet, free wifi, computer & lockers & fridge in the dorm, very clean and a very friendly staff. And it's only a 10 minute walk to the city center. I would definitely recommend this hostel to everyone.

I moved here as the place I had booked was not up to standard. This was and was clean and quiet. The free WiFi was excellent.

This was my least favorite place that I stayed in all of New Zealand. I reserved a room with four beds for me and my friends, but when I arrived I was told that they divided us into two rooms with only ONE SMALL BED in each room. I reached the owner on the phone and she said they had no rooms with four beds....interesting, since the email reservation I received from Freemans Lodge said otherwise. I don't appreciate being lied to. Besides that horrible situation, there were people EVERYWHERE. Men were literally sleeping on the floor and couches of the hostel...it felt like a homeless shelter. And to top it off, the beds, pillows and bathrooms were dirty.