Weird and wonderful all aboard for Cup auction

Lunch with Winston Peters or a role as an extra on Shortland Street?

A tough choice, but those with enough money could take home both if they really want to help Team New Zealand defend the America's Cup this summer.

The "Great Team New Zealand auction" aims to raise up to $1 million towards Team New Zealand's $80 million defence budget, and already has 1500 items on its books.

The Bayley's online auction starts next Friday and runs for four weeks, during which time people can bid on the internet for the supporter's prize of their choice.

While items donated so far include designer dresses and household appliances, there are others which show an eclectic view of what the average yachting enthusiast would want to buy.

High on the list must be the lunch with the charismatic Mr Peters. The NZ First leader, who has railed against immigration, is clearly right behind his local team - which only has a handful of foreigners on board.

Those wanting a more genteel experience can instead have tea with the the Governor-General, Dame Silvia Cartwright, at Government House.

Sporting bidders have a choice of a famous horseshoe, now plated with gold and once worn by Sir Tristram, or, for those unable to completely shake their rugby roots, a day with the Auckland Blues.

Millionaire businessman Eric Watson remains loyal to New Zealand causes, despite packing his bags for London, by offering a free service with a stallion from his Westbury Stud.

And showing Auckland how to get behind a national event is capital city mayor Kerry Prendergast, who has arranged a "Welcome to Wellington" package.

No "Welcome to Auckland" package is listed.

Auction highlights include:

* Plastic surgery worth $30,000, ideal for those feeling a tad weather-beaten after a hard day sipping wine on the Hauraki Gulf.

* Lunch for two at the Beehive with Winston Peters.

* Tea for six with Governor-General Dame Silvia Cartwright,

* Signed Christian Cullen All Blacks shorts, hopefully washed.

* Private movie screening for 130 people in Marlborough. Presumably not Titanic.

* Walk-on role on Mercy Peak.

* Extra's role on Shortland Street or Street Legal.

* An Auckland to Sydney cruise, to get away from the Cup crowds.

* A signed Neil and Tim Finn platinum album, featuring the Split Enz classic Six Months in a Leaky Boat.

* A trip to Melbourne as the guest of racing car driver Greg Murphy.