An auction to play a game of Monopoly with Labour Finance Minister Grant Robertson and National Party Finance Spokesperson Paul Goldsmith has sold for $10,300.
The Trade Me listing, which closed at 10.01pm on Monday, was a Cancer Society fundraiser. A bidding war erupted in the final two minutes, increasing the price by almost $3000. After 84 bids reached $10,250, the final bid was $50 more.
The auction winner, who is a vehicle trader based in Christchurch, told Newshub he and his friend were brushing up on their Monopoly skills.
"I'm looking forward to some interesting chat over a challenging game," he said.
The four will be hosted at Wellington's Thistle Inn, where they'll enjoy a drink and fish and chips on the house.
Trade Me spokesperson Ruby Topzand, said political auctions attracted a lot of interest and often, a high amount of money.
"While we’ve seen a number of listings for lunch or a cup of tea with a politician, we can’t recall seeing the opportunity to play boardgames with them before, she said.
As Monopoly games tend to drag out, one person questioned how much time the finance politicians would devote to the game.
"They have committed a good 90 minutes for a game - very generous in these times," was the auction response.
Given Monopoly players were keen to buy, another wondered whether this meant property prices would hold up.
"That's the beauty of Monopoly...land in the wrong place at the wrong time and it's all on," the answer read.
In June, a drawing of Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern and Director-General of Health Ashley Bloomfield dressed as superheroes sold on Trade Me for $6530.
In 2017, a 2.4 metre-high portrait of former Prime Minister Helen Clark sold on Trade Me for $1840, attracting almost 50,000 views and over 60 questions, with proceeds sent to Women's Refuge. In a separate Trade Me auction, a confident seller listed Helen Clark's sketch of the beehive for $11,000 after it sold for $4000 in 2007. It didn't sell.
A year earlier, a framed carpet picture of former Prime Minister John Key, by Whanganui artist Mark Rayner sold for almost $900.
A Cancer Society spokesperson said the auction proceeds would go towards cancer support, education and awareness and fund research on causes and treatment of cancer.
