nelson-just adding my two cents i live in nelson and it is far better then hawkes bay my grandparents live there a few points
1.nelson/south island has volcaneos just our ones are mostly extinct nelson even has one on it's side!
2.rob is 100% right auckland has too many aucklanders
3.as far as fish goes auckland is the best but nelson is good too you can get things from wellington blenhiem chirstchuch westport if you ask on trademe.co.nz for a certain fish you can normally get them to nelson and they aren't badly priced
4.nelson has better beachs!!