Story of the Conservation game

The original 1976 box. 5000 were sold across NZ.

I played a board game called CONSERVATION as a child and loved it. The original game was invented by R.J. Reynolds in NZ in 1976. It had such an impact on me that I want to re-invent it for a new generation. I am an environmental educator, avid composter and worm farmer and worked for 12 years as a Waste Campaigner for the Total Environment Centre and Boomerang Alliance, mostly on the Cash for Containers campaign to get 10c refunds on bottles and cans across Australia.

The 1976 CONSERVATION board.

I am not a natural businessperson but have started my small profit-for-purpose company, this sacred earth pty ltd, to make and sell the EARTHCARE and CONSERVATION games and other educational resources. This year, marking 50 years since Bob created the game, I am selling organic cotton tea towels with the original 1976 game board printed on them, and the 2026 CONSERVATION game (english version). The game cards and tokens will be available to download and print for DIY lovers or to buy separately, to play the game.

Thanks to financial support from Quakers Aotearoa Peace & Service Committee I am working with Māori Cultural Consultant Natalie Rose Te Hei to create a te ao Māori version called KAITIAKI and a bilingual instruction booklet. A Māori Illustrator will be commissioned. I am partnering with the NZ Association for Environmental Education and kiwi teachers to develop a Teachers Guide for using the game in the classroom to teach kids sustainability practices and have fun while exploring the many ways we can care for the earth, connect with nature and help conserve the planet's resources. There will be two online sessions for teachers to upskill on the te reo Māori words in the te ao Māori Kaitiaki version of the game.

"Take small steps to save the planet and earn points.  Make a mess, waste energy or water and lose points.  I CARE cards help you do good things. Suitable for 6 - 106 year olds."

The first batch of games (500 EARTHCARE box games and 250 EARTHCARE canvas games) were mindfully made in Australia - mostly in the Central Coast of NSW. Every part of the game has a story. I went to NZ in early 2019 and found R.J. Reynolds, aka Bob Reynolds of Nelson, now in his 80's.  Bob happily passed the intellectual property rights to his game onto me in 2020.

I crowdfunded in 2021 to make the first 750 games and I have been selling them through my online shop since 2022.  The Dorrigo Rainforest Centre, Blue Mountains Heritage Centre and the Walkabout Wildlife Sanctuary have EARTHCARE games in their shops. Keep NZ Beautiful will be selling the 1976 and 2026 CONSERVATION game mats (aka tea towels).

My hope is that the EARTHCARE game and the CONSERVATION & KAITIAKI GAMES will plant seeds of awareness, and care for our earth. I hope it will inspire many people to get out into nature and marine reserves and avoid waste (by re-using, refilling and only buying products that last) and take part in the circular economy, where our resources are valued and kept in circulation for as long as possible. The worst place to land on the game board is The Tip!

Who am I supporting with my 'profit'?

I have sponsored Narara Eco Village Experience, Central Coast Kids Day Out, Australian Seabird Rescue, Walkabout Wildlife Sanctuary, Firesticks Alliance and the Bob Brown Foundation and Kariong Eco Garden by donating funds, games and in-kind contributions. In Aotearoa NZ I will donate 20% of the sale price of tea towel/games to NZ conservation projects including Forest & Bird - Kiwi Conservation Club, ParaKore and Keep NZ Beautiful.