Kete made from 52 harakeke varieties
The 52 kete on this wall are each made from a particular harakeke variety found in our pā harakeke – the Rene Orchiston Flax Collection. Rene began collecting varieties of harakeke in the early 1950s. She travelled throughout New Zealand visiting marae and recording information from elderly weavers on the names and uses of their special harakeke.
After food, harakeke (Phormium tenax) or New Zealand flax was the most essential commodity to early Māori. Harakeke represented the whānau with rito (shoots) symbolising children, surrounded protectively by the awhi rito (strong, mature leaves) and finally the outside leaves personifying the tūpuna (ancestors).
Harakeke was found in natural stands, but also cultivated by Māori weavers for the plants’ special properties. Māori used the whole plant – leaf, flowers, and rhizome – for a variety of purposes.
The importance of harakeke to Māori is reflected in the strict tikanga (lore) that surrounds this precious plant. Traditionally a karakia (prayer) is said before leaves are harvested, and only the outer leaves are taken.
He kete i rangā ki ngā momo harakeke e 52
Ko ngā kete e 52 i tēnei pātū, ko tēnā, ko tēnā i rangā ki tētahi momo harakeke i tā mātou pā harakeke - te Kohinga Harakeke nā Rene Orchiston. I timata a Rene Orchiston ki te kohikohi i ngā momo harakeke i ngā tau tata nō te tau 1950, ā, huri haere ai ia i Aotearoa ki te toro i ngā marae me te tuhi i ngā pārongo a ngā kairaranga kaumātua mō ngā ingoa me ngā whakamahinga o ā rātou harakeke whakahirahira.
Whai muri mai i te kai, ko te harakeke (Phormium tenax) te tino rawa ki a Ngāi Māori o mua noa atu. Ko te harakeke ānō he whānau me tōna rito, ko te tohu tēnā o te tamariki, e karapoti manaakitia ana e ngā awhi rito, ka mutu ko waho atu ko ngā rau, arā, ko ngā tūpuna.
Kitea ai te harakeke i ōna wāhi māoriori, heoi anō tērā hoki te harakeke i whakatipuria e ngā kairaranga Māori mō ōna āhuatanga mīharo. Whakamahi ai te Māori i te tipu katoa - te rau, te pua me te akakōare - inā noa atu ōna whakamahinga.
Ko te hiranga o te harakeke ki te Māori ka kitea i ngā tikanga tapu e hāngai ana ki tēnei tipu tongarerewa. Ko tōna tikanga ia, he karakia ka takina i mua i te hauhake rau, ā, ko ngā rau o waho anake ka tīkina atu.
