Moeraki: Kemu

Overview

Moeraki: Kemu is a two-player abstract strategy game themed around Maori tribal competition on New Zealand’s Moeraki beach. Players are tribal leaders placing stone pieces on a hexagonal board, trying to achieve one of four victory conditions: surrounding a beach field (Tahuna), forming a diagonal (Awa), filling an edge row (Ara), or winning by area majority when the board fills (Marae). The game has three tiers of rules: Beginner, Basic, and Master.

Components

• 1 wooden game board with hollows, beach areas, semi-beach areas, and Moeraki-fields (9 central hollows)
• 28 black pieces (Matau tribe)
• 28 white pieces (Manaia tribe)
• 1 Moeraki-ball (neutral piece)
• 24 tribal tiles (half-tiles for area control)
• 2 Maori-Tane warrior figures (1 per player, used in Master game)
• 2 counting stones
• 3 warehouses for tribal tiles

Setup

1. Place the board between both players so the Moeraki lettering is readable by both.
2. Each player takes their colored pieces and places them in the storage area to their right.
3. The younger player is Player A for the first game; in subsequent games, the previous winner starts.
4. Player A places the Moeraki-ball in one of the 9 central hollows of the Moeraki-field.

Turn Structure

Players alternate placing one piece per turn:

1. Player B places the first piece of their color in any open hollow.
2. Player A places a piece of their color in any open hollow.
3. Continue alternating. Once placed, pieces cannot be moved.

After each placement, check if a beach area is now surrounded by 4 pieces – if one color has superiority, place the corresponding tribal tile.

Actions

Placing Tribal Tiles

When a beach area is surrounded by pieces:

• 3:1 or 4:0 superiority: Place a full tribal tile of the superior color.
• 2:1 superiority (semi-beach/edge areas): Place a half tribal tile (diagonal dividing line on the board’s sideline). Counts as half a point.
• 3:0 superiority (semi-beach/edge areas): Place a full tribal tile. Counts as 1 point.
• 2:2 tie: No tile placed; area remains vacant.
• The Moeraki-ball is neutral and does not count for either color.
• Beach areas bordering the Moeraki-ball always have at least a 2:1 superiority (no tie possible).

Maori-Tane (Master Game Only)

Once per game, each player may place their Tane warrior instead of a regular piece, replacing one of their own full tribal tiles:

• All tribal tiles in the Tane’s line of sight up to the sidelines are removed (including own tiles).
• Those lines remain permanently free from tribal tiles for the rest of the match.
• If two Tanes’ lines of sight intersect in a beach area, the first Tane’s effect on that area is lifted.

Scoring / Victory Conditions

Four ways to win (checked after each placement):

Victory	Condition
Tahuna (Beach)	Surround a beach field with 4 pieces of your own color
Awa (River)	Form a diagonal of your pieces from sideline to sideline, OR from sideline to the Moeraki-ball in center
Ara (Path)	Fill all 4 hollows on one outer edge row (horizontal or vertical) with your pieces
Marae (Holy Ground)	All hollows filled; count tribal tiles. Full tile = 1 point, half tile = 0.5 points. Highest total wins

If scores are equal in Marae, the player who placed the Moeraki-ball wins.

Moeraki Scale (Match Series)

Before playing, agree on a target number of individual victories (e.g., Uira/3, Kiwi/5, Moa/7, Ika Moana/10). Track wins on the scale; first to reach the target wins the Kemu.

Special Rules & Edge Cases

• In the Beginner game, a tie is possible (via Marae only).
• In the Basic game, the Tane warriors add tactical depth; ties become less likely.
• If placing a piece triggers two tribal tile placements simultaneously, place the tile matching the placed piece’s color first.
• The Moeraki-ball must be moved to a different central hollow by the starting player each new game.

Player Reference

Phase	Action
Start	Player A places Moeraki-ball in a central hollow
Turns	Alternate placing 1 piece in any open hollow
Tile Check	After each placement, check surrounding beach areas for color superiority
Win Check	After each placement, check for Tahuna/Awa/Ara victories; if board full, score Marae