KEY POINTS:
Auckland is hoping to pass go and collect the benefits of a prestigious spot on the new global version of Monopoly, but a southern rival appears to be on a bigger roll.
Queenstown is well-placed in the voting to be named as a property on the iconic boardgame,
even if Auckland City Mayor John Banks reckons Auckland should be first in line to join the likes of Paris and New York.
"Notwithstanding Queenstown is probably the closest you get to heaven in this country ... Auckland grows at the size of Queenstown every three months," Mr Banks said.
Friendly rivalries are intensifying as internet voters worldwide back their cities to be named as 20 properties on the Monopoly Here & Now: World Edition.
While Queenstown is the only New Zealand finalist in the running on the world leaderboard, yesterday ranked 12th - joining Beijing and Tokyo as the orange properties, Auckland is vying for an extra spot among the wildcard list, and was yesterday ranked seventh.
"The most puzzling aspect of all of this is why should Queenstown be there," Mr Banks said.
"The difference is that when people are playing Monopoly, they will know where Auckland is."
Queenstown Lakes District Mayor Clive Geddes said Mr Banks was welcome to his opinion, but getting the southern resort town listed on the game would benefit all New Zealand.
"We think the board should be characterised by resort towns. Towns where everyone wants to be and everyone wants to visit, and Queenstown fits the bill admirably."
Greater Auckland was a collection of cities "and that's part of its difficulty, whereas Queenstown has this definitive identity."
Mr Banks said a global promotion like this was great for the whole south-west Pacific region "and for Auckland that's a bonus".
"This sounds pretty cool to me. It's sure as hell better than Dancing with the Stars in terms promotion."
Asked where Auckland should be placed on the Monopoly board, Mr Banks said confidently: "It should be elevated above Paris and New York".
Mr Geddes said the people of Queenstown "would just be real happy to be on it, without worrying whereabouts on the board we were".
Both mayors are urging their residents to get on the Monopoly website and vote.
For Queenstown, 24 voting days remain, while voting for Auckland and the other 19 wildcard contenders begins on February 29.
* Vote at monopolyworldvote.com
TALE OF TWO CITIES
* Internet voting will determine which of the world's cities and towns are named as properties on the new global version of the Monopoly board game.
* Queenstown is among 68 finalists in the running to be named as one of 20 properties.
* Auckland is one of 20 "wildcard" locations vying to be named as one of two remaining properties.
