Dunedin's George St was packed with bargain hunters making the most of the Black Friday sales. PHOTO: PETER MCINTOSH
Figures released by Paymark show $36.1 million was spent in Otago over the weekend, and $15.1 million in Southland.
That marked a 10.6% and 10.7% increase respectively on Black Friday weekend in 2018.
Spending was also up across the country, with an average 12.8% jump in sales compared to last year.
Spending through the Paymark network totalled $253 million on Friday, making it the second busiest day of the year, following Easter Thursday.
Thousands of shoppers braved the busy central city in Dunedin over the weekend to nab a bargain during what has become one of the biggest shopping weekends of the year.
Black Friday originated in the United States, where it is traditionally held on the Friday after Thanksgiving.
