Atarau » Manaaki Whenua

Strips well and fairly easily, but not really a muka variety.

	Source	Details
Cultivar No		12
Source		Pipiriki, Whanganui River.
Description		A handsome bush, quite a contrast with a distinctive deep blue tone about its tall bright bronzy leaves. Straight, strong, pointed leaf with red tonings inside the old blades. Very blue bloom on the back of the blades. Very few flower heads.
Uses		Strips well and fairly easily, but not really a muka variety. When Rene experimented with this harakeke, the scrape turned a lovely yellow-gold the same day. When boiled for one minute, strips dry to deep green/fawn shadings. Fawn-brown when unboiled.
Piupiu		Does not curl up properly at the bottom. It can still be used for piupiu but might need to be cut a bit higher from the take (butt end of the leaf). It does strip nicely.
Muka extraction		Only a portion (approx. one third) of muka extracts. Rest of fibre remains in leaf. Para sticks to fibre.
Raranga - unboiled		Butt ends of whenu are thick and tips are thin. When softening whenu, sticky juice is released. Edges fray, whenu easily split lengthwise. Whenu turn golden colour when still fresh

Gallery

Atarau: flowers Image — Atarau: flowers

Atarau: bush Image — Atarau: bush

Atarau: leaves Image — Atarau: leaves

Atarau: seed pods Image — Atarau: seed pods

Examples of whenu (flax strands) curled for creating piupiu. Ateraukawa, Ruahine, Roma 2, Tāpoto, Manunu, Rataroa, Atarau. Image — Examples of whenu (flax strands) curled for creating piupiu. Ateraukawa, Ruahine, Roma 2, Tāpoto, Manunu, Rataroa, Atarau.

Atarau: Does not curl up properly at the bottom. It can still be used for piupiu but might need to be cut a bit higher from the take (butt end of the leaf). It does strip nicely. Image — Atarau: Does not curl up properly at the bottom. It can still be used for piupiu but might need to be cut a bit higher from the take (butt end of the leaf). It does strip nicely.

Information sources

Rene Orchiston

Katarina Tawiri

Rita Baker

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