4.3 Harakeke – Weaving People Together

TE REO O TE REPO – THE VOICE OF THE WETLAND4.3HARAKEKEWEAVINGPEOPLETOGETHERSUE SCHEELE (MANAAKI WHENUA)Harakeke ātaahuaConsiderations for restoring harakekeRestoring harakeke for weavingWahakuraWant to learn more?HARAKEKE FLAX71

TE REO O TE REPO – THE VOICE OF THE WETLANDMe te wai kōrariLike the honey of the harakeke flower"On my arrival in this country theMāoris would often inquire after thevegetable productions of England; andnothing astonished them more than to betold there was no harakeke growing there.On more than one occasion I have heardchiefs say, 'How is it possible to live therewithout it?' and 'I would not dwell in sucha land as that.'"1William Colenso 1892. Vestiges: Reminiscences: Memorabilia of works,deeds and sayings of the ancient Māoris. Transactions of the NewZealand Institute 24: 445–467.1Weavers hui, Te Kaha. Photo: Sue ScheelePrevious page: Harakeke seed capsules. Photo: Sue ScheeleHARAKEKE FLAXHARAKEKE A-TAAHUAWhile no longer essential for our very survival, it ishard to think of another plant that is more importantto and symbolic of customary Māori life than harakeke(New Zealand flax, Phormium tenax), whether formedicinal uses or for creating the myriad of domesticitems crucial to day-to-day living. Today, on the marae(meeting house) and in wānanga (learning forum),raranga (weaving) tikanga (values and practices) andtechniques have been revitalised and are flourishing.Harakeke grows throughout Aotearoa New Zealandand is commonly found in lowland repo (wetlands) andalong awa (rivers), and in coastal areas on estuaries,dunes and cliffs. However, large wild stands remainingare much diminished. Harakeke is a common featureof riparian plantings. The bushes help prevent streambank erosion and can intercept nutrient run-off fromsurrounding farmland. The roots tolerate submersionand the tough bush can withstand the drag offast‑flowing water.The flowers are a wonderful source of high-qualitypollen, essential for bee health, and tuī, bellbirds, andstarlings throng to collect the nectar. It isn’t palatableto animal pests such as possums and rabbits, thoughcattle will strip the green matter off the leaf leavingthe fibre exposed. The bushes are also home to manynative insects, including caterpillars such as the anuhe(windower, also known as moka and mūharu) and themokamoka harakeke (notcher) that can damage theleaves so they are useless for weaving.72

TE REO O TE REPO – THE VOICE OF THE WETLANDHARAKEKE FLAXCONSIDERATIONS FORRESTORING HARAKEKEAs with all restoration projects (particularly whenfocused on one species), there are some key matters toconsider with the whānau (family):Plants are easy to establish by taking divisions (fans)from mature bushes, which is a cost-effective approachfor restoration projects. For minimum maintenance,plant the fans close together, so there is lessopportunity for weeds such as blackberry to invade. A general principle of restoration planting is to haveeco-sourced (plant species known to be native to thelocal area) material. For harakeke, this means usingdivisions from plants growing wild in the area, orcollecting seed off those bushes and propagatingthem. Seed should be chilled (put in the fridge) for 12weeks to ensure good germination. What is a pā harakeke?A pā harakeke is where varieties ofharakeke, selected for their good muka(fibre) or raranga (weaving) qualities,are planted together for easy access andmaintenance.Harakeke on West Coast river. Photo: Sue ScheeleWhy do we want to restore harakeke? Forweaving? For other plants and animals? For waterquality improvement? All of the above?What is the best way to restore harakeke?Restoration plantings often include harakeke,preferably sourced from the local rohe (area). Theplants themselves are robust, long-lived, windtolerant, and frost resistant. Once established,harakeke are able to withstand flooding anddrought.Are there specific varieties of harakeke that areimportant to the whānau/rōpū (group)? Somevarieties may have disappeared, or others are at riskof disappearing.Do we want a pā harakeke? If we want to developan area to grow weaving varieties (pā harakeke), isthere a 'champion' in the whānau to keep up themaintenance? And what is the succession plan toensure there is a champion in each generation tosafeguard the long-term sustainability of the pāharakeke?73

TE REO O TE REPO – THE VOICE OF THE WETLANDRESTORING HARAKEKEFOR WEAVINGHarakeke in restoration plantings can be difficult toaccess and the leaves are not necessarily of goodquality for raranga or muka (fibres). Cultivatingharakeke is a way to ensure vigorous, healthy bushesthat will provide superior leaves and fibre for specificweaving purposes.Think of the pā harakeke as an orchard or garden.Many of the same principles apply. We choose varietiesthat best suit the site and climate, and the weavingpurposes we have in mind. We space the plants so theyhave room to grow, don't have to compete with otherplants for their nutritional requirements, and so we caneasily get to them when it's time to harvest or prune.Ideally, we keep the plot weed-free and use whichevermeans we find acceptable to control pests and diseases.HARAKEKE FLAXChoosing a siteAlthough harakeke is naturally associated withwetlands, including swamps, the best quality plantsfor weaving grow on fertile, well-drained soil. Choose asunny site. Avoid growing harakeke under large trees orin too shaded an area.Planting timeThe best time for planting depends on growingconditions in your rohe.Autumn/winter is a good time for transplanting. Butin very cold areas, wait until spring. We generally don’ttransplant harakeke when the kōrari (flower stalks) areemerging, or in the dry summer months.Choosing harakeke varietiesLocal weavers will know which types of harakeke arebest to use. Are you mostly interested in weavingkete (basket) and mats, or using muka for korowai(cloak) making? Do you want to make piupiu (skirt-likegarment) for kapa haka (Māori performing groups)?Are there beginners or schoolchildren needingsoft‑leaved bushes to practise with?Suitable varieties may be available through localweavers. Another source is the Rene OrchistonCollection maintained by Manaaki Whenua atLincoln.Harakeke planted in weed mat. Photo: Sue ScheeleVegetative division or seed?To ensure a plant has the same properties as theparent bush, take a division from it (a fan with someroot material attached). If we plant seeds, we can’t besure whether the characteristics of the resulting bushwill be what we want. In botanical terms, harakekepreferentially out-crosses, i.e. the pods develop bestwhen the flower has been pollinated by pollen froma separate plant. And just like people, the progeny oftwo harakeke bushes may have different charactersfrom their parents.Seedlings also take longer to mature, about 6–8 years.Plants grown from root stock take about half that time.Kōrari, harakeke flowers. Photo: Sue Scheele74

TE REO O TE REPO – THE VOICE OF THE WETLANDHARAKEKE FLAXPreparing a sitePlanting the harakekeThe planting area should be cleared of perennialweeds. If appropriate, use glyphosate (RoundUp )to clear the site. In planting experimental trialsthroughout Aotearoa, we used weed matting andfound it very effective in reducing maintenance time.It had the added advantage of keeping the soil moist.Lay the matting down first, and then poke holes in itto plant the fans. Old wool carpet is also good to use,because it will rot away nicely as the harakeke grows.Taking fans off the parent bush can be hard work! Ifpossible, choose a time when the soil is moist. We liketo use a long-bladed planting or trenching spade, agrubber, or a crowbar to dig around and get under andbehind the fan we are lifting.Divided fans are usually trimmed of outer leaves,leaving the rito (growing shoot) and the two parentleaves on either side (awhi rito or mātua). The parentleaves should be cut back if too long, but it is a goodidea to have some protection of the rito. If possible,plant the harakeke fans together in groups of three.This will give them a good start.The traditional way to plant harakeke is to 'plant thepuku (stomach) to the sun', so that the bulge on thefan faces halfway between the rising and settingsun. This protects the baby fans, which will emergeat the back of the clump, and gives them shade andmoisture.Allow at least 3 metres between each clump. This lookslike a ridiculously large gap at first! This spacing willallow good air movement among the plants as theygrow, which helps prevent build-up of scale and fungaldiseases, and allows easier access for trimming andharvesting.Dividing harakeke. Photo: Sue ScheeleHarakeke fans ready for planting. Photo: Sue ScheeleIf the soil is poor, apply general fertiliser containingphosphate. Plants will also benefit from regularwatering.Pā harakeke. Photo: Sue Scheele75

TE REO O TE REPO – THE VOICE OF THE WETLANDHARAKEKE FLAXWAHAKURAHarakeke varieties with longleaves of medium strengthare best suited for weavingwahakura. Wahakura is abassinet for infants rangingfrom birth to 6 months of age.It provides a 'safe sleepingspace' and allows pēpe (baby)and māmā (mother) to remainclose, which is important forbonding and breastfeeding.The wahakura protect babieswhen they are sharing a bedwith their mātua (parents).Wahakura made from harakeke by Katarina Tawiri. Photo: Sue ScheeleMaintenanceKeep the area around the base of the plants weededand trim dead leaves. To reinvigorate the bush, trimeach fan back to the central three leaves – the rito andthe awhi rito. We usually do this in winter. Another timefor pruning is when the leaves are harvested. Take theleaves required, and then clean the rest of the bush.Pruning results in vigorous growth of good qualityleaves and helps keep insect pests and diseases at bay.Use a sharp knife for cutting, not secateurs. Cut theleaves on an angle at the base of the fan. This is toensure that rainwater flows to the ground and doesn’trot the new growth. It’s also safer not to have sharpblades sticking out where they can jab people workingaround the bush.Some weavers prefer to cut off the kōrari when theyemerge, so that the plant's energy goes into leaf growthrather than flowering. If a pā harakeke of 'imported'varieties is planted close to wild plants, cutting off thekōrari also ensures that there is no seed contaminationof local types.Traditionally, old leaves and weaving scraps wereplaced back under the parent bush. It is best not to dothis. This material provides a home for the insects thatchew the harakeke leaves. Keep the bushes clear ofdead leaves, weeds, and debris.Dividing harakeke for orders. Photo: Sue Scheele76