Kauri

About the game

What is Kauri?

Kauri is a strategic, asymmetric board game with high replayability that brings the historical settlement of New Zealand to life on a beautifully crafted game board with detailed wooden pieces. In this board game, four unique factions with distinct abilities, their own decks of cards, objectives, and gameplay mechanics battle for dominance: the Māori, the Englishman, the Possums, and the Kiwis. At the heart of the conflict stands the Kauri tree, the island’s iconic symbol — but each faction follows a different strategy and scores points in its own way. The Kiwis must fight for their survival, while the Possums seek to expand their territory. The Englishman will first deforest the land before hunting the Possums, while the Māori build their sacred temples (Whare Nui). Over five intense rounds, players must strategically play their cards to take control of the island while preventing their opponents from gaining too many points. A game filled with strategy, historical authenticity, and dynamic challenges—will you claim victory?

How it plays

Mechanics

On the shelf

Categories

Questions players ask

Questions to bring to BoardGameBrain

• How do setup and the first turn work in Kauri?
• When does scoring happen and what ends the game?
• How should the table resolve an unusual timing or rules interaction?