Giant carrot beats Auckland

New Zealand's premier landmark has been named - and it's not the harbour bridge or Sky Tower.
It's not even the Viaduct Harbour or One Tree Hill.
It's a park in New Plymouth.
Pukekura Park and its two-month festival of lights has won the prime Mayfair spot on the new Monopoly, Here and Now New Zealand board.
The provincial park knocks off Auckland's Queen St, which held the top spot for 21 years.
Rangitoto Island takes the neighbouring Park Lane square, the only Auckland feature to make the board.
The Viaduct, Sky Tower and bridge were all nominated by local authorities.
But in public voting, the vibrant America's Cup venue was beaten by a big carrot and an oversize kiwifruit.
The Ohakune and Te Puke landmarks were winners in the quirky kiwiana section.
And the Viaduct and harbour bridge combined didn't score as many votes as the Hundertwasse-designed public toilets in Kawakawa.
A poll to update the popular game attracted more than 230,000 public votes, a quarter from Manawatu and Taranaki.
Provincial pride saw just under 40,000 votes cast for Pukekura Park, more than half New Plymouth's population.
Palmerston North voters put their town square in second place, 15,000 votes behind.
Other landmarks to make the cut include Napier's art deco buildings, Wellington's cable cars, the Waitomo Caves and Christchurch's Cathedral Square.
But Aucklanders will find some features familiar - players fork out $400,000 per apartment for picking up the 'leaky building' Chance card.
The 'stuck in rush hour' card sets you back three spaces, and texting while driving earns a hefty fine.
Auckland mayor Dick Hubbard says the new board probably represents a change in values since the last edition of the game in 1986.
"Perhaps it is reflecting a maturing of New Zealanders, where we're putting more value on non-money real estate, and that's maybe something we should welcome.
"But I'm very pleased that Dick Hubbard's nose hasn't been taken on as a prominent landmark," he says.
By HEATHER McCRACKEN - Auckland City Harbour News Wednesday, 27 June 2007