Initiating decolonization: from The Last Straw! to Whāriki

The board game, Last Straw!, is part of the Aotearoa (New Zealand) public health and medical curriculum at University Otago. An engaging effective teaching tool about social determinants health, game falls short by being silent Indigenous experiences. A project underway to adapt Straw! for play following an framework, kaupapa Māori (Māori (Indigenous people Aotearoa) approach). redesigned as Whāriki, a woven mat. mat represents metaphor life strands thread are throughout lifecourse, characteristics impact strength qualities This brief commentary outlines first stage adapting this resource, illustrating decolonizing in way that honours embeds te ao (the worldview), making them visible intentional.