Retailers shouldn't let a holiday spending lull in Canterbury and Auckland scare them

Digital payment company Paymark says the centres are seeing the smallest sales growth in the country - with Canterbury having just a 1.6 percent growth in sales, and Auckland 1.9 percent.

This is compared to regions like Wanganui and Palmerston North - which are seeing upwards of 8 percent growth.

Head of digital payments Darren Hopper says there's a good reason.

He says in regions with bigger populations - spending can be spread across the holiday season.