Kiwi RPG | Kēmu Whakatau O Aotearoa
Who the heck are we? What are we doing? Why are we like this?
It’s Matariki, the start of a new cycle of the year down here in Aotearoa. This is a time we mark by remembering what has passed, celebrating where we are, and looking ahead to the future.
So in that spirit, let’s check in on Kēmu Whakatau O Aotearoa, KiwiRPG!
(This was originally posted last year. It has been lightly updated for 2025, but mostly it’s the same, because our history is our history!)
In the months since last year’s KiwiRPG week, we’ve been busy! So here’s a bunch of things you might have missed…
One notable thing about 2025: the appearance of more games about Aotearoa New Zealand, particularly those including Māori perspectives.
Looking to find tabletop content created by Kiwis? The KiwiRPG Library is now live, cataloguing the tabletop games, modules, podcasts, streams and more created by folks from Aotearoa New Zealand. The library will be updated with new content as it is published, and is now the definitive source of our country’s tabletop gaming content. Powered by Lore Library, you can find the full KiwiRPG Library here: https://www.kiwirpg.com/library/
To find out more about this fantastic new tool, let’s have a little chat with creator of the Library Hugh Lashbrooke, and see if we can discover a few secrets…
Who the heck are we? What are we doing? Why are we like this?
It’s Matariki, the start of a new cycle of the year down here in Aotearoa. This is a time we mark by remembering what has passed, celebrating where we are, and looking ahead to the future.
So in that spirit, let’s check in on Kēmu Whakatau O Aotearoa, KiwiRPG: where we’ve been, where we are, and where we’re going.
Say hello to the new best way to get KiwiRPG goodness in your ears!
A special one today: a new KiwiRPG podcast that catches the best RPG audio from across the motu and brings it right to you!
Continue reading “Spotlight: Our new podcast, the KiwiRPG Chorus!”
KiwiRPG week coincides with Matariki, the midwinter rising of the Matariki star cluster. Matariki marks the start of a new year. This year the day of Matariki is Friday, June 28, but this event is marked and celebrated all week.
The three principles of Matariki are, using words from matariki.com :
Matariki Hunga Nui – Remembrance: Honouring those we have lost since the last rising of Matariki.
Matariki Ahunga Nui – Celebrating the Present: Gathering together to give thanks for what we have.
Matariki Manako Nui – Looking to the Future: Looking forward to the promise of a new year.
In this post, Kēmu Whakatau O Aotearoa gives members an opportunity to honour those we have lost in our communities in the last year. Role playing games are about people and connection, and the bonds we form through friendship and play are powerful.
Looking for new content to spice up your game table, virtual or otherwise? Want to support Kiwi creatives? Then you should check out the two active Kickstarters below, both of which have a bit of Kiwi in them. Added bonus: they have already reached their funding goals!
Continue reading “Current Kickstarters Involving Kiwi Creatives”
Over on YouTube we’ve set up two playlists collecting videos of KiwiRPG creators doing their thing!
The Discover KiwiRPG channels playlist collects some videos from the wide variety of channels run by KiwiRPG creators. Lots of actual play and other interesting sorts of game things to be found here!
And the KiwiRPGers Talk playlist collects videos where KiwiRPG members are chatting about games. This is for convention panel appearances, conference talks, interviews, and other stuff.
Now closed: The Rainbow Violence Prevention Network TTRPG fundraiser bundle
This bundle is organized by KiwiRPG to raise funds for the Rainbow Violence Prevention Network, a collaborative group of organisations that aims to reduce sexual and domestic violence against the rainbow community.
Continue reading “Charity Bundle: Rainbow Violence Prevention Network”
Kia ora e hoa mā.
With the race towards the end of the calendar year, it seems appropriate for Kēmu Whakatau O Aotearoa to start thinking about the next one, and more specifically the next end of year, albeit the Māori one. Stick with me, it’ll make sense shortly.