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Geo AR
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Free Browser Game
  • No download needed

  • Accessibility friendly

  • Based on real world research
KiwiTitle_PNG.avif
Free Browser Game
  • No download required

  • Accessibility friendly

  • Based on real world research

KiwiTesting.jpg
CASE STUDY: Kiwi Kai

Farming Meets Stewardship

Developed in collaboration with Science Learning Hub and Landcare Research (Bioeconomy Science Institute), Kiwi Kai is a browser-based life simulation that blends farming with environmental education. Players step into the role of a young farmer and guide their land through three in-game years, experiencing every season. They explore paddocks, rivers, wetlands, and forests, uncovering the unique biodiversity of each environment. Quests unlock badges and species icons, rewarding curiosity and encouraging exploration. Māori language and mātauranga (knowledge) are woven throughout, helping players connect cultural understanding with environmental stewardship. The result is an engaging, story-driven game where decisions about farming, conservation, and community all matter.

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Sheep in Open Fields
The Challenge

How do you teach children about farming, biodiversity, and Māori culture in a way that feels alive rather than like a typical classroom lesson. The challenge was to create an interactive experience where young players could see how their actions affect the land, waterways, and species they share the world with.

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Project Outcomes

Strengthens Problem Solving Skills

Kiwi Kai gives children the chance to make choices, see the consequences, and practice sustainable thinking in a safe and playful environment.

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Connection to Nature and Culture

By linking farming with biodiversity and cultural knowledge, the game builds appreciation for both the natural world and the role people play in caring for it.

"The teacher said, 'This never happens'. They were completely invested. They felt ownership of it." 

Dr Catriona Macleod, Senior Researcher Bioeconomy Science Institute

Bioeconomy
Girl Feeding Chickens
Go behind the scenes of Kiwi Kai

There's a whole ecosystem behind every plate of food, and most kids never see it. Our full writeup breaks down the thinking behind Kiwi Kai.

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Kiwi Kai is a free browser game available for schools in New Zealand. Explore real-world scenarios and learn how to manage a sustainable farm.

Resources & Associated Papers

Science Learning Hub. (n.d.). Kiwi Kai: Virtual Farm – An Introduction. Science Learning Hub – Pokapū Akoranga Pūtaiao. https://www.sciencelearn.org.nz/resources/3237-kiwi-kai-virtual-farm-an-introduction

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