Wānaka's property market is about to heat up as Monopoly board game fans try to land their tokens on Upper Clutha landmarks and spend up large.
Many of the Upper Clutha’s landmarks and tourism spots will be "sold" to businesses and then featured on the board, giving future gamers a chance to buy them again and again, on repeated "journeys" around the district.
Monopoly Wānaka will become the fifth New Zealand game of Monopoly to be released by Winning Moves, an Australian company that holds the rights to the board game.
Southland, Auckland, Wellington and Palmerston North already have their own Monopoly games.
Spots on Wānaka’s board are expected to sell quickly so Winning Moves is working with Ignite Wānaka Chamber of Commerce to reserve some special destinations to auction at an Edgewater Hotel function on May 25.
Chamber general manager Glenn Peat said he was excited about the promotional opportunities the game offered to Wānaka and surrounding towns.
"We have an array of incredible businesses here and this allows us to create something that supports the local community as well.
"Monopoly is a board game played in more than 114 countries and 47 languages.
"With many local and international travellers visiting our area and looking for a holiday keepsake, it feels only fitting to have a Wānaka edition," he said.
Wānaka Wastebusters, Wānaka Community Hub and Food for Love have been selected as organisations to be supported at the auction.
Ignite Wānaka board chairwoman Jo Learmonth said months of planning had gone into the Monopoly promotion.
Revenue from sponsorship and board game purchases would be used by the chamber for training, education and advocacy, she said.
"It is exciting to reach this milestone and eventually see Wānaka Monopoly come to life," she said.
Winning Moves Australia and New Zealand manager Dale Hackett said each New Zealand game was different, reflecting its own community and character.
Work on the design of the board would begin in June, after the auction.
Wānaka Monopoly should be available for pre-sale through the chamber from August, with boards available from November.
