We’re absolutely thrilled to share the news about our recent collaboration with Tourism New Zealand (TNZ) and Minecraft! This campaign has brought the stunning landscapes and rich Māori culture of Aotearoa New Zealand to the virtual world of Minecraft, and we could not be prouder of our Māori tourism operators who played a vital role in the virtual experience.
Exploring Aotearoa in Minecraft
The new downloadable content (DLC), “Aotearoa New Zealand”, lets Minecraft players from around the globe explore six iconic Kiwi locations:
- Waitomo Caves
- Rotorua (featuring Te Puia | New Zealand Māori Arts and Crafts Institute)
- Kāpiti Island (featuring Kāpiti Island Nature Tours)
- Abel Tasman (featuring Waka Abel Tasman)
- Takapō / Tekapo (featuring Dark Sky Project)
- Patea / Doubtful Sound
Players can paddle a waka, listen to taonga pūoro, and interact with simulated characters who share Māori stories and traditions. It’s an immersive way to experience te ao Māori and connect with our beautiful country.
We’re incredibly proud of our Māori tourism operators who were involved in this project. John Barrett from Kāpiti Island Nature Tours shared his excitement: “This project has real potential to grow new markets and promote interest in te ao Māori and our place in the sector and community.” Barrett highlighted the collaboration’s focus on developing a strong Māori narrative, which is at the heart of this campaign.
Sean Marsh from Te Puia in Rotorua emphasised the educational value from this campaign: “Players learn about Māori culture – from the importance of wharenui to tekoteko carvings. We hope this sparks curiosity that leads to real-life visits or even inspires future tauira to join our carving or weaving schools.”
Lee-Anne Jago of Waka Abel Tasman praised the engagement with mana whenua during development: “It might have been longer but the whakawhanaungatanga made it so special. It’s a real exemplar of what’s possible when you work with Māori meaningfully.”
Victoria Campbell, General Manager of Dark Sky Project, shared her thoughts on the collaboration in their recent media release: “We saw this as a unique opportunity to share the beauty of Te Manahuna (Mackenzie Region) and the significance of the night sky with a global audience in an interactive way. We hope this collaboration sparks an interest in astronomy, encourages players to visit Takapō [Tekapo] in real life, and deepens their understanding of Māori astronomy and the importance of protecting our dark skies”.
Adding a personal touch to the virtual experience is a cameo by our Chief Executive, Pania Tyson-Nathan. As players enter the game’s central hub – a beautifully crafted wharenui – they’re met with Pania who shares the virtues of Tiaki – Care for New Zealand.
Tipene Oneroa from the New Zealand Māori Arts and Crafts Institute worked on translating intricate carving designs into Minecraft’s pixelated format. “This was a first for me,” Oneroa said, noting how it bridges traditional art forms with digital spaces. He hopes the representation inspires tamariki Māori to explore their whakapapa.
Tourism New Zealand Chief Executive René de Monchy described the campaign as an immersive way to showcase Aotearoa’s beauty and culture. “We want to give people an immersive taste of what New Zealand has to offer,” he said.
The Minecraft DLC is free for players worldwide, offering them a chance to experience Aotearoa virtually while encouraging real-life visits. We’re thrilled to see how this campaign will inspire people to come and experience our culture, history, and manaakitanga (hospitality) for themselves.
As Barrett put it: “This is more than just a game – it’s a way to connect people with our culture and inspire them to come experience it for real.”
We couldn’t agree more! Our operators and friends from TNZ, Piki Studios and Minecraft have done an amazing job, and we’re excited for players to have a taste of Māori tourism experiences through Minecraft.
