"Neat in the Naki"...what Taranaki attractions would you include in our own version of Monopoly?

Taranaki Monopoly

ROB MAETZIG

What's the most valuable real estate in Taranaki?
Is it natural assets such as our mountain and beaches? Man-made attractions such as Pukekura Park and the Coastal Walkway? Or commercial assets such as Port Taranaki and the methanol plant?

These questions have taxed our collective minds at the Taranaki Daily News this week as we have worked to develop a uniquely Taranaki version of the famous Monopoly board game.

It's all because early this week the manufacturer of Monopoly announced plans to create an Auckland edition. The company is now asking Aucklanders to suggest which of the city's streets and landmarks should be selected to swap places with the famous London sites on the standard Monopoly board.

We decided that if it is good enough for Auckland, then it's good enough for Taranaki too.
But we've since discovered that creating a uniquely Taranaki version of Monopoly is far easier said than done. That's because the region's real value isn't necessarily in cash, but in its natural attractions and people.

How much wealth do you attach to an individual's ability to enjoy the natural beauty of Egmont National Park, free of charge? To wander down to a any one of a large number of beaches and catch a fish? To take the children to Pukekura Park on a warm summer's evening during the annual Festival of Lights?

So whereas the object of the traditional game of Monopoly is to become the wealthiest player through buying, renting and selling property, we've decided that the real "wealth" in the Taranaki version can be through visiting the region's special attractions - both natural and man-made.

Even that's been a challenge, however. Monopoly players know that in the traditional game the value of properties range from the lowest in Old Kent Road and Whitechapel Road up to the highest in Mayfair and Park Lane.

For the Taranaki version, it's been very difficult comparing one attraction against another and trying to judge their relative value. But here we go . . .

Brown: Rawhitiroa Memorial Pool, Eltham; Manukorihi Golf Course, Waitara.
Light blue: Patea Waka; Stratford Clock Tower; Loaf of Bread, Manaia.
Crimson: Opunake Beach; Fitzroy Beach; Oakura Beach.
Orange: The Most FM; Taranaki Daily News; Te Korimako o Taranaki.
Red: Coastal Walkway, New Plymouth; Lake Rotokare, Eltham; White Cliffs Walkway, Pukearuhe.
Yellow: Fonterra Dairy Complex, Whareroa; Maui Gasfield, Oaonui; Port Taranaki, New Plymouth.
Green: Womad; Taranaki Festival of Arts; Taranaki Representative Rugby.
Blue: Egmont National Park; Pukekura Park.

Utilities: New Plymouth Airport; Taranaki Base Hospital.

Taxes: Local Government Rates; Power, Gas Charges.
'Stations': Butler's Reef Hotel, Oakura; Whangamomona Hotel; Peggy Gordon's, New Plymouth; Rough Habits, Hawera.
Others: Replace Go To Jail with Go To Whanganui.
- © Fairfax NZ News