Auckland Chamber of Commerce chief executive Michael Barnett also rejected the survey results.
"We are the commercial capital, it is busier and bigger, it probably has a sense of perhaps being less personal than the smaller centres," Mr Barnett said.
"But if we look at the Rugby World Cup and the real cosmopolitan effect that we had here in Auckland, and the fun and the partying, you'd be asking where the hell did they do their survey?"
Auckland Council member Sir John Walker said VIP visitors he met during the World Cup were impressed by Aucklanders' friendliness during the tournament.
"People say, 'We had a great time and want to go back for their friendliness'," he said.
Former Hamilton city councillor and TV presenter Kay Gregory said her city's second-place finish was more Hamilton-bashing by people who didn't know the city.
"I've always said that the people who say that have not been here. It's the thing to do is to bash Hamilton."
Mrs Gregory, who spent one term as a Hamilton councillor, said the city was underrated and it was typical that Hamilton and Auckland had been singled out.
"I've worked with a lot of people who have had to move to Hamilton for a couple of years for work who said, 'Oh not Hamilton,' and they've got here and never left because they have discovered people are really friendly."
Hamilton was a little but "happy city ... We're not as stressed as some places".
Dunedin Mayor Dan Cull was not surprised by his city's rating.
"I would have expected that," he said.
The unscientific online poll was conducted over a week late last month
Cold towns
Unfriendly cities (percentage of voters)50 per cent said Auckland
18 per cent
said Hamilton
13 per cent
said Christchurch
8 per cent
said Wellingon
3 per cent
said Dunedin
