A slice of the region has been immortalised in one of the world’s most famous board games, with the official launch of a fully customised Eastern Bay Monopoly board.

Created by the Eastern Bay of Plenty Chamber of Commerce, the limited-edition board has been two years in the making and showcases the region’s places, businesses and character in vivid detail.

From local landmarks and businesses, to jokes tailored to the area, the game is described as a collector’s item and a must-have for family get-togethers this summer holiday season.

Chamber of Commerce membership and relationship manager Alex Berntsen said the project was a true team effort and involved extensive collaboration with local businesses, sponsors and Hasbro, the global owners of Monopoly.

“It has been a challenge, especially getting the artwork right,” Ms Berntsen said.

“Everything had to be approved by Hasbro in the UK. But we’re really happy with it and it has absolutely been worth it.”

Traditional Monopoly stations have been replaced with Pakihi Māori – iwi- owned enterprises, while the property spaces feature Eastern Bay businesses such as the Whakatāne Mill, Julians Berry Farm and Apogee Legal, alongside a Dream Chaser Foundation property sponsored by Poppy’s Café.

The board artwork is a collage of the Whakatāne Heads with the mussel boat returning, the Ōhope Wharf, the Onepū Bike Trail, Whirinaki Forest and the Pou Whenua at Kohi Point.

The board aims to represent the full diversity of the region, from coastline to countryside.

Even the playing pieces are uniquely local, including a mussel, a cow, a boat, a sun symbolising the region’s “sunshine capital” status, a geothermal drilling rig, a kiwi and a daffodil-inspired flower.

Each token is sponsored by a local business, with explanations included in the instruction booklet.

The chance and community chest cards have also been given a distinctly Eastern Bay flavour, with scenarios such as “You took out a full-page ad in The Beacon for your garage sale. It went viral. You sold everything – even your neighbour’s lawnmower, collect $100” and “You lost your prized surfcasting rod to a rogue wave at Matatā Beach, pay $100”.

“Every card is customised,” Ms Berntsen said.

“The feedback has been amazing. When people open it, they realise how cool and unique to our area it is.”

The boards arrived last week, with the first run consisting of 3000 boards, about a third of which have already sold, with many people having pre-ordered to secure their copy.

The game is available at several local retailers, including Paper Plus, Epic Escape, Meadow Club and the Te Kaha Resort, for $89.99. It is also available online through the website www.easternbaymonopoly.co.nz

Paper Plus staff report strong demand since the game went on sale.

“It’s going out the door,” owner Graham Dennis said.

“People love that it’s local. It’s a world-famous game, but it’s our community on the board; they know the places on the board. And the quality is great.”