Former lawyer’s Red Herring board game hooks players

Simon and Belinda Mortlock in the middle of a game of Red Herring. Photo: Geoff Sloan

From business lawyer to board game inventor, Governors Bay man Simon Mortlock has made quite the post-retirement shift.

The inception of his board game, Red Herring, came from seeing the card game, Exploding Kittens, last year.

“I thought now that’s a stupid game. If someone can make money out of a card game like that, then surely I can make a board game as well,” Mortlock said.

Red Herring is a strategy game played by four to six people.

The object is to be the first to construct your own jetty in one hour.

The Governors Bay Jetty. Photo: Geoof Sloan

Mortlock designed the game in a fundraising effort for the Governors Bay Jetty Restoration Trust. He is the trust’s current patron and its former chair.

“If you haven’t got it, you’ve got to make it,” he said.

Mortlock was a lawyer for 53 years and a founding partner at Mortlock McCormack Law before retiring in 2021.

His lawyer’s skills translate to the game, where strategy and managing risk are crucial to winning. Mortlock, who lives in Governors Bay, compared the game to Monopoly but said it is more complex.

The board is a map of Lyttelton Harbour with 36 different locations around the bay labelled in English and Te Reo, designed by Governors Bay artist, Russ Harris.

“It’s a staggering amount of detail and there’s very fine craftsmanship,” said Mortlock.

Each player is given a coloured jetty and 20 planks worth of differing points to start the game. Players gain more planks when they complete a circuit or land on certain locations.

Players can take planks from other players and use them strategically to decide whether to build their jetty first or maximise their points.

It took Mortlock six months to iron out the rules while Harris designed the board.

“We played it over and over and over again to perfect it.

“I’m really thrilled with the quality of the outcome,” Mortlock said.

The Caxton printed version costs $90 while the limited edition handcrafted board costs $345.

Forty-nine handmade copies and 33 Caxton printed versions have sold so far.

They have raised $13,000 for the Governors Bay Jetty Restoration Trust. Mortlock is meeting with retailers this week to get Red Herring into stores.

“It would be great if it took off and helped raise a lot of money for charity,” he said.

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