Aotearoa: Contact and Tiriti - Mega-Game Experience

Aotearoa: Contact and Tiriti
Second Mega-game Play-test Experience
Register to play:
https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSd6rtdd1qvg2b1lhlDh4lv4rMn-s_kSTVjmV5NwNeWMFH7lYA/viewform?usp=sharing&ouid=103878144103209675080
Following a fantastic first play-test, we're back for a second opportunity to experience Aotearoa: Contact and Tiriti.
Arcturus Trail has refined the game based on player feedback and we are inviting another group of players to help shape this unique historical mega-game before its public release.
Step into one of the most significant periods in Aotearoa's history and become part of a living story where every decision influences the future.
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 megagames or want a sense of both the experience and themes, these videos are a great introduction:
What is a megagame like?
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Themes and historical context:
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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 22 August
Time: 9:00am (please arrive a little early)
Duration: Approximately 3–5 hours
Venue: Climate Action Campus, 180 Avonside Drive, Christchurch
Cost: Free
Age: 14+
Who Should Attend?
This experience is open to:
- Board gamers and strategy enthusiasts
- Roleplayers 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 play-test 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.
Why a Second Play-test?
Every playtest helps us improve the game. Your ideas, observations and feedback will directly influence the final version of Aotearoa: Contact and Tiriti, making this a chance to contribute to the development of an original New Zealand megagame.
Spaces are limited, so registrations are essential.
Register here:
https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSd6rtdd1qvg2b1lhlDh4lv4rMn-s_kSTVjmV5NwNeWMFH7lYA/viewform?usp=sharing&ouid=103878144103209675080