Mātiki Minecraft helps ākonga build future of farming block by block

A 140-year-old South Island farm has been rebuilt block-by-block inside Minecraft to support a new generation of learners. The immersive Mātiki Minecraft resource is teaching ākonga about agriculture, horticulture and sustainability while sparking curiosity, creativity and careers in the primary industries.

A South Island farm that played a pivotal role in Aotearoa New Zealand’s farming history has time-travelled into the 21st century, reimagined in Minecraft, the globally popular video game now bringing agricultural science to life for ākonga across the motu.

The resource, Mātiki Minecraft, is a virtual replica of Totara Estate in Oamaru. Lamb from the estate was part of the first shipment of frozen meat ever exported from New Zealand, way back in 1882 – laying the foundations for today’s multibillion-dollar meat industry.

Now built in Minecraft block form, the history is integrated with study units for Years 7 to 10 science and agriculture learning areas. The name ‘Mātiki’ comes from a Māori agricultural tool shaped like a pickaxe, with an adze and chisel edge.

From pasture to pixels

During the game, students tour through acres of virtual farmland, learning about the seven significant primary industries of Aotearoa: beef, sheep and arable farming, kiwifruit and pipfruit production, dairy, and forestry.

“Students learn about early farming practices and can then modernise the online property into a sustainable working farm complete with modern infrastructure, practices and systems,” says Suzy Newman, subject advisor for Sow the Seed.

“Gaming and education can go hand in hand, inspiring students to explore New Zealand’s rich farming history while preparing them for its future.”

Students can visit the historic men’s quarters and cookhouse, wander across paddocks, and meet characters dressed in traditional Kiwiana farming attire – black singlets and stubbies.

Along the way, they learn about tools and technologies used in farming, including artificial insemination, genetics and animal health programmes.

A hands-on learning adventure

Developed by former primary school teacher turned educational technical specialist Anthony Breese of Museograph, Mātiki Minecraft is carefully grounded in realworld geography. Each Minecraft block represents a metre in real life, with topographic data translated into block form using world-building software.

“I personally believe it’s important to understand where we come from, which is why setting the scene at Totara Estate was so great,” says Anthony.

“And also it’s important to provide students with an insight into where our food comes from, which they learn about while innovating during the game too.”

A team of agricultural and horticultural science teachers from Sow the Seed, HATA, and Agribusiness in Schools helped shape the content, ensuring that the Minecraft world offered multi-layered, challenge-based learning aligned with the curriculum.

“It’s STEM played out in a farming environment,” says Suzy.

Literacy, numeracy and innovation

Students are encouraged to write stories for their Minecraft characters, fulfilling literacy standards, while numeracy comes into play as they calculate crop loads and farming costs.

There are also scenarios where ākonga experiment and design their own farming solutions.

Fiona Jessep, head of Mount Hutt College’s agriculture department, says, “My husband and I had visited Totara Estate just before I had a go at Mātiki. It was quite surreal walking or flying up the driveway that I had just recently driven up. As a person who has not had much to do with Minecraft, I was blown away by the details that were in the world.”

Fiona’s Year 10 students even built an irrigator to ensure their crops had enough water to grow.

“Students can think about ways we can change things to improve our industries, that suit both the natural environment and our farming and horticultural industries,” says Anthony.

Connecting rural and urban worlds

While some schools may have gardens or access to local farms, Mātiki Minecraft makes this experience possible for urban learners as well.

“Students from non-rural backgrounds get a real-life glimpse into life on the farm,” says Fiona.

One challenge encourages students to build their own farm using information gathered from the Totara Estate Minecraft world and beyond.

Once students have grasped the key industries, they’re encouraged to imagine future-focused solutions like robotic milking systems or rooftop gardens.

“We want students to think about the biodiversity and sustainability of their farms,” says Suzy.

Fiona adds, “I have been teaching Ag/Hort Science for over 25 years, and I am still amazed that people think that it is an easy subject and that our brightest students should not take it.

“The industry is future-focused and therefore needs bright students to come up with the new ideas and methods that will enable New Zealand farmers to navigate challenges such as climate change.”

Support for teachers

Mātiki Minecraft can be used not just in agriculture and horticulture, but also in science and social studies. Teachers don’t need to be Minecraft experts either, as the accompanying website offers cross-curricular unit plans and guidance.

“Teachers can learn as they go to support their class, and maybe they’ll even learn something new from their students,” says Suzy.

“Minecraft is a great game where you can’t just push a button and get an answer from it. And you’re not just creating a poster to present from information you’ve learned in a writing or maths textbook,” says Anthony.

“Instead, students have to work to get their answers through being innovative, using their imaginations.”

Mātiki Minecraft teacher workshop

The next online workshop for teachers will be held Tuesday 24 June 2025, 4–5pm. Visit sowtheseed.org.nz.