The team at Trees That Count has found a unique way to get native trees in the ground this lockdown, with a new card game that hones New Zealanders' knowledge of conservation and te reo Māori at the same time.

'This lockdown a lot of parents have been searching out educational games. It's perfect timing that we've partnered with Te Taura Whiri i te Reo Māori (Māori Language Commission) to release a reo Māori version of our popular 'Tree Snap” game, Taukapu Rākau,” says Trees That Count Chair Joris de Bres.

Trees That Count, the native tree marketplace backed by national environmental charity Project Crimson Trust, is celebrating Conservation Week and Te Wiki o te Reo Māori this September with this new edition of its hugely popular game.

'At Trees That Count everything we do is about putting more native trees in the ground to thrive, so with every pack purchased we've committed to plant one native tree.”

With the generous support of Te Taura Whiri i te Reo Māori, 750 free packs of Taukapu Rākau will be distributed to schools and kura nationwide. Teachers can claim their pack (one per school) on the Trees That Count website, right on time for Te Wiki o te Reo Māori.

Elise Jenkins, 6, and her sign for Māori language week. Photo: Grant Jenkins.

'Young people are critical to the revitalisation of te reo Māori and we are delighted to support this initiative that weaves together our national language, caring for our environment and our children,” says Te Taura Whiri i te Reo Māori chief executive, Ngahiwi Apanui.

Each deck of cards includes illustrations and information about some of Aotearoa's most iconic native trees.

'This is a great way to learn about native trees, have some fun and contribute to one of the very best ways of having a lasting and positive impact on the environment - planting native trees,” says Joris de Bres.

Featured trees include the iconic pōhutukawa, kauri, and twelve others.

Trees That Count already has an English version of the game available on its Shopify page.

Since its inception, Trees That Count has enabled the planting of more than three quarter of a million native trees, with the help of its corporate partners and hundreds of ordinary New Zealanders.

Taukapu Rākau (Tree Snap) is available for pre-order now.