A new quality of life survey isn't good reading for Aucklanders, who poll last out of eight New Zealand cities.

The Nielsen 2018 Quality of Life survey polls 7500 New Zealanders from Auckland, Hamilton, Tauranga, Porirua, Hutt City, Wellington, Christchurch and Dunedin.

Every two years, Nielsen polls city-dwellers on issues like housing, crime, transport and even their sense of pride in their city. Councils use the results to help them plan.

"It's always really good to get a marker like this from people that live in your city and from around the country, because perception is reality and you want to know that you're performing well as a city," says Wellington Mayor Justin Lester.

Tauranga ranks number one, with 91 percent of residents believing they've got the best quality of life in the country.

But Hutt City and Wellington aren't far behind, with Hutt residents proud to pip their neighbours across the harbour.

"Wellington? Oh my god, I was there a couple of weeks ago and made a foolish mistake - I got on one of their double-decker buses; I won't do that again," says Hutt resident Leslie Foster.

But Russell Hawaikirangi in Wellington says, "Our traffic jams only last an hour. Lot of good people."

Dunedin, Porirua, Hamilton and Christchurch rank fourth to seventh, with Auckland coming in last on 83 percent.

Newshub.