Tasman District has landed a place on the latest New Zealand edition of Monopoly, with the iconic Archway Islands off Wharariki Beach representing the Top of the South.
The image showcases one of Golden Bay's most recognisable landmarks, capturing the rugged beauty of the district's windswept coastline. On the board, Tasman appears in the red property group, taking the place of Whitehall from the traditional London version of the game.
The Kiwi-themed board features landmarks from across New Zealand, including the Sky Tower, Hobbiton, Ninety Mile Beach and the Moeraki Boulders. Even the Chance and Community Chest cards have been given a local flavour, with classic Kiwi sayings such as "yeah nah" and "go big or go broke".
Golden Bay Community Board chair Grant Knowles says it is fantastic to see this special corner of Tasman recognised.
"Many visitors come to Golden Bay specifically to see Wharariki Beach and the Archway Islands," he says. "The distinctive rock formations are known around the world thanks to their appearance as the default lock screen image on Windows 10 computers."
There is, however, one small point of controversy.
While players move around the board using Kiwi-inspired tokens, one Australian favourite has slipped into the mix. A jar of Vegemite features among the game pieces, leaving some to wonder why New Zealand's Marmite missed out.
Still, it is a fitting recognition for Tasman, which now sits alongside some of Aotearoa's most iconic destinations on one of the world's best-known board games.
