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Aotearoa: Contact and TiritiMegagame Playtest Experience
Register to play:
https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSfSkkEuYLzxy1oBv4sFWwGvRnBHjc3Qh1PF4NbztNWH0fddMA/viewform?usp=publish-editor
Step into a pivotal moment in Aotearoa’s history and take part in a large-scale, interactive experience unlike anything else in Christchurch.
Aotearoa: Contact and Tiriti is a megagame — a hybrid of board game, roleplay, and social simulation — where 20–100 players come together to explore the period of early contact between Māori and Pākehā communities (circa 1820–1860).
What is a Megagame?
Megagames are large, immersive experiences where players work in teams, take on roles, and interact within a shared system that evolves in real time.
You’ll be part of a community navigating a changing world, making decisions, forming alliances, and responding to the actions of others.
Expect a mix of:
- Strategy and resource management
- Negotiation, trade, and diplomacy
- Conflict and cooperation between teams
- Roleplay and decision-making under pressure
No prior experience is needed, the game is designed to be learned as you play.
Get a Feel for the Experience
If you’re new to mega-games or want a sense of both the experience and themes, these videos are a great introduction:
What is a megagame like?
Themes and historical context:
The Experience
Players take on roles such as rangatira, tohunga, missionaries, traders, and community leaders during a time of rapid cultural, economic, and technological change.
Working in teams, you will:
- Provide for your population and grow your community
- Trade goods and build relationships with other groups
- Navigate disputes and seek resolution — through diplomacy or conflict
- Respond to shifting population dynamics and new opportunities
Every decision contributes to a shared story that unfolds across the room.
The experience concludes with a facilitated reflection, allowing players to unpack what happened and connect it back to the historical context.
Event Details
Date: Saturday 27 June
Time: 9:00am start (please arrive a little early)
Duration: Approximately 3–5 hours
Location: Climate Action Campus, 180 Avonside Drive
Cost: Free
Age: 14+
Who Should Attend?
This experience is open to:
- Board gamers and strategy enthusiasts
- Role-players and creative thinkers
- Students, educators, and history enthusiasts
- Anyone curious to try something different
No prior experience with mega-games or roleplaying is required.
Important Notes
This is a playtest event, and your feedback will help shape the future of the game.
The experience explores a significant and sometimes sensitive period of Aotearoa’s history and is designed to encourage thoughtful engagement.
Spaces are limited to 20–100 players. Registrations will close when full or one week prior to the event.
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Event Venue
Climate Action Campus, 180 Avonside Drive, Christchurch, New Zealand 8061, New Zealand
Tickets
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