Kaimanāki o te Ngahere: Guardians of the Forest

Abstract

Inspiring children to appreciate and safeguard endemic species is crucial. Embodied learning experiences enhance their connection with nature, increasing empathy and environmental awareness. However, urban sprawl has reduced opportunities for meaningful engagement with natural environments. Kaimanaki o te Ngahere: Guardians of the Forest is a narrative-driven educational game designed to reconnect children aged five-to-eight with Aotearoa’s native ecosystems. The game introduces Mori concepts of kaitiakitanga, mramatanga, and whanaungatanga to encourage reciprocal care between players and the forest. It aims to raise awareness of Myrtle Rust affecting native trees like phutukawa, mnuka, knuka, rt, and ramarama. Recognising that traditional environmental education may not resonate with young learners, we use prkau (storytelling) to frame the gameplay experience. Prakau fosters deep relational learning, shaping the player’s journey as they navigate environmental challenges through interactive storytelling. Future development will introduce Augmented Reality (AR) to connect digital storytelling with real-world conservation efforts, deepening ecological learning.