When you factor in lower wages and less jobs I doubt there is any competition to the cities in the Wellington region and Auckland.
Christchurch isn't that awful either, if you can handle earthquake damage and the occasional Nazi.
I don't think anyone is dispute that Welly is one of the best places in NZ, but I'm not sure that means a lot.
Despite ongoing post-quake problems (like, insurance delaying settlement since 2011), I like Christchurch much more now than when I arrived in 1993. Unfortunately Siggy has retired and Steve Sumner passed away, but this is still a place where football is played.
There has been a big influx of foreign-born workers, many of whom actually come from footballing nations. Just the increase in Germans, Czechs and Irish alone have been quite noticeable. They seem to pop up here and there in the pubs watching football if it is on (and some pubs will have it on). And a football-loving Russian Slava Meyn has funded new footballing facilities too.
Our "temporary" stadium is rectangular, with lots of parking, and Phoenix games here were well patronised. It is my understanding that Vbase decided not to bring a game here this year because their break-even bottom line is much higher this year than before (City Council budget hole with festivals and events). I may be mistaken on this, but maybe others can clarify.