The city cites the figures from job search giant Seek that the average advertised salary in Wellington for 2015 was NZ$80,348, the most for any region in New Zealand and 6% higher than any other.

Auckland was in second spot on NZ$75,856, with Taranaki a place back on NZ$72,475, and the average advertised annual salary across New Zealand was NZ$73,873.

Seek spokesperson Sarah Macartney says Seek’s online job advertisements in Wellington had increased over the past twelve months in education and training (+36%), construction (+20%), Advertising and the Arts (+14%), Human Resources (+14%), with and science and technology up by 11%.

“The diversity of growing industries in Wellington highlights the breadth of opportunities that are available. As the capital of New Zealand, there is a lot more to Wellington’s employment market than government jobs."

Wellington Regional Economic Development Agency Chief Executive Chris Whelan says that with more highly-skilled jobs, higher salaries and a lower cost of living than New Zealand’s other big cities, Wellington suits smart people looking for a great lifestyle.

“Australasian professionals who’d like to advance their careers, get into a reasonably-priced family home, and live in a city that’s known internationally for culture, cuisine and creativity, should take a good look at Wellington.

“Plus, with the residential property market in the region showing signs of increasing activity, Wellington also offers long-term wealth creation opportunities.”

And, the median house price in Wellington in October 2015 was NZ$435,000, compared to Auckland’s NZ$765,000, while the national median was NZ$549,500, according to Real Estate Institute of New Zealand figures.

And, if you are not yet enticed across the ditch, here's some statisitics on ICT employment in Wellington:

•    Wellingtonians are twice as likely to work in ICT as those in other New Zealand regions

•    More people in the Wellington region now work in technology-related sectors than in the public sector

•    Almost 50% of Wellington’s working population is in knowledge-intensive industries, the highest proportion in New Zealand

•    Wellington has the most educated workforce in New Zealand with 28% of residents holding tertiary qualifications, compared with 20% in New Zealand has a whole

•    New Zealand is ranked 17th in the world for Business competitiveness

•    13 Wellington companies featured on the Deloitte Fast 500 Asia Pacific list, 2015