Wellington has been named New Zealand's most creative city as measured by those employed in creative jobs.
Photo: 123rf
It was not also voted the most liveable city in the world by Deutsche Bank last month.
Infometrics Creativity Index found 6.4 percent of Wellingtonians were employed in the creative sector, 1.7 points ahead of the next best, Auckland. It's the second year the capital has worn the crown.
Wellington region's Porirua, Lower Hutt, South Wairarapa and Carterton made the cut for the top ten areas in New Zealand as well.
Wellington Mayor Justin Lester said the creative sector underpinned so much of what happened in the city.
"It runs the whole gamut from the performing and visual arts through to our tech, food, education and film sectors."
People chose to live and work in Wellington because they wanted to be amongst other creative people.
Wellington councillor and arts portfolio leader Nicola Young said there was a diverse offering of arts in the Wellington.
"From chamber music New Zealand, Orchestra Wellington, to fantastic galleries, live theatre all within a very small area. A lot of it's inexpensive, some of it's free."
Being creative was at the heart of what made a Wellingtonian, she said.
Wellington City Council announced earlier this year it would inject $127 million into the city's arts and creative sector.
Ms Young said a large proportion of the money would go towards strengthening the Wellington Town Hall, Ms Young said.
"In addition to being a beautiful building, it has some of the best acoustics in the world according to experts."
Infometrics Creativity Index
- Wellington 6.4 percent
- Auckland 4.7 percent
- Queenstown Lakes 4.5 percent
- Kapiti Coast 4.5 per cent
- Dunedin City 3.9 percent
- Porirua 3.6 percent
- Lower Hutt 3.6 percent
- Christchurch 3.4 percent
- South Wairarapa 3.4 percent
- Carterton 3.3 percent
