New Zealanders are spending more as Christmas shopping gets into full swing

Worldline NZ data shows consumer spending reached 1.65 billion dollars during the first two weeks of December - up 1.2 percent annually.

Wairarapa topped figures - up six percent - follow by Whanganui with a rise of 5.2.

Spending was down in Palmerston North, Wellington, Bay of Plenty, Auckland, Northland and Marlborough.