UPDATED 1.24pm: It was a record Boxing Day for retailers.

Paymark figures show $151.7 million was spent nationwide yesterday.

That's an 11.2 percent increase in spending on last year.

Paymark chief executive Mark Rushworth says while Christmas Eve is always the biggest day of the year, the Boxing Day sales have given them a real boost.

Auckland Malls estimate foot traffic of about 300,000 for the first day of the post Christmas sales.

Shoppers kept scouring for bargains from dawn until dusk, with many centres offering extended hours.

But Westfield spokesperson Deb McGhie says full figures on foot traffic won't be known until the numbers are crunched on Tuesday.

She says anecdotally, St Lukes and Albany malls will likely go head-to-head for the busiest in Auckland.

Sylvia Park alone drew 85,000 people, about 30,000 more than a normal busy day.

Retailers say it's been their busiest Boxing Day ever.

She says Riccarton Mall in Christchurch typically tops the country for customers through the door.