Games to spur serious Waitangi Day climate conversation

Visitors to Far North District Council’s Waitangi Day stall will have an opportunity to make a game out of climate change – part of council efforts to enhance understanding and empower communities to tackle the serious environmental challenges facing the district.

The interactive game – the Serious Game – was created by the National Institute of Water and Atmospheric Research (NIWA) and addresses complex issues such as flooding, sea level rise, and drought.

Visitors to the council’s Waitangi Day stall will have the opportunity to play-out a sea level rise scenario.  Serious Game players must adjust a coastal property affected by natural hazards associated with rising sea levels and more frequent storms. Each roll of the dice represents a 10-year cycle, during which players will need to explore ways to adapt, make financial decisions, and learn about the challenges the Far North is currently encountering and will confront more in the future.

The goal is to help players develop a vivid understanding of the potential impacts of climate change in different situations and provide choices on what actions they could take to mitigate those impacts.

The game usually finishes in less than 30 minutes, making it suitable for a wide range of ages, and can be played either individually or as part of a team.

The council’s Climate Action and Resilience Team members will be on hand during the day to facilitate Serious Game sessions, and to answer any questions visitors have about the council’s plans to meet the challenges of a changing climate.

The council’s Waitangi Day stall at the Housing Expo will debut Serious Games in the Far North. It is an opportunity to drop in and play, learn, and contribute to a conversation on how we can collectively contribute to the well-being of our people and our planet.

Nō reira, nau mai, piki mai, kake mai rā e hoa mā, ki te whakanui i te rangatiratanga o te taiao.