Harakeke, Aotearoa New Zealand
'POL, NZ. North Island. Flax Stalks at Anawhata.
From ethno/botanical records in 1939. Native flax, harakeke,
(variety of Phormium, Lily family) grows wild, characteristic of
wet places, right up into the mountains and was cultivated (and
protected from theft by incantations) for a wide range of use for
its straight frond leaves.'
Dr Kissling's note, 1978
Harakeke is used in Māori weaving. The leaves are cut and the
green outside is stripped from them using a mussel shell. The
fibres inside are then rolled into threads called muka.
Research note, 2019
Object no :
DMPG295n
Collection :
Creator :
Dr Werner Kissling
Place of Production :
NA
Dimensions :
NA
Materials :
NA
Location :
NA
Related site :
