Boxing Day spending was up, but just a smidgen, from 2015.

Paymark said 152.7 million dollars was spent through its networks yesterday - that's up 1.9 percent from Boxing Day last year.

Wellington experienced the most growth of the major cities at 4.8 percent.

Paymark spokesman Paul Brislen said that's a new record for the day - but it's really only a slight increase.

"What we saw there particularly in Auckland, was a lot of people not going to the mall, and instead heading out on a nice day and going to the beach, which is exactly what you want for Boxing Day."

But it was the regional centres of Taranaki, Nelson, Otago and the Bay of Plenty where increase in spending was the strongest.