A temperate climate, not too hot and not too cold, a stunning environment of hills, volcanoes, harbours and islands with quick access always to the sea, easy movement around the city - a few peak-hour chokepoints apart - general peace, quiet and freedom, a mixed and relatively harmonious little league population and an expanding economy and prospects.
This year's Mercer study included a personal safety category in which Auckland and Wellington were ninth equal, immediately after Singapore and behind a clutch of northern European cities.
We hear and read much about crime and lawlessness but the risks appear to be minor compared with the main cities in Australia, ranked in the mid-20s and 50th, and London, Paris or American centres, which fall out of the top 50 altogether.
Mercer says its personal safety index considers crime rates, effectiveness of law enforcement, internal stability and international relations.
For Mr Brown, progress up the Mercer results would seem to vindicate his election pledge to create the world's most liveable city. Well, it did on Tuesday.
But by yesterday Sydney, which sat 11th in that survey, was crowning itself the world's third-best city through a study by the Reputation Institute.
"Loveability test puts Sydney on the podium" sang the headline on the Sydney Morning Herald's website, quoting a poll of "perceptions" of 35,000 people worldwide on the merits of 100 cities.
Unlike the Mercer study, which used statistics and public records, the Reputation findings were an "emotional connection" measuring people's trust, respect or admiration for a centre. Sydney scored top marks for "the best city to live in" and second to Rome for beauty. Auckland came 35th overall.
In another exercise on liveability, published by the Economist Intelligence Unit in August, Auckland came in 10th, after four Australian cities, three from Canada and two from Europe.
Auckland lost ground in that exercise on the categories of healthcare and infrastructure, but Top 10 is nothing to sniff at. Another magazine, Monocle, uses broader criteria again in its list of the 25 best places in the world to live and puts Auckland at number 20. A PwC report on the world's 26 Best Cities missed Auckland altogether, but it had gone in search of "metro powerhouses".
They are all vastly different rankings. Take them for what they are worth. The proximity this week of two conflicting claims simply proves the need to flaunt your liveability and loveability with pride ... and realism.
