Christchurch people fleeing to Nelson and two Super 15 rugby games in the city helped boost retail spending in Nelson and Tasman last month by $5 million, or nearly 7%.
Nelson-Tasman Civil Defence estimates between 3000 and 7000 people from Christchurch visited to Nelson to escape the earthquake aftermath, although it says many have now returned.
A spokesperson for retail group Uniquely Nelson, Rowena Richards, says the Canterbury spending was good for retailers, but there has also been a general loosening of purse strings.
She says some businesses reported a 10% increase in turnover last month compared to March last year.
