Background

Different tribes used different types of flax’s for many different things. For instance the cultivar ‘maeneene’ was used by the Ngai Tuhoe people of Urewera to weave fine patterned mats. Ngati Porou sought the ‘Takirikau’ cultivar for making piupiu (kilts). The ‘Kohunga’ cultivar produced muka that Ngati Maniapoto used for their finest cloaks. Whanganui tribes chose the ‘Ate’ cultivar for making eel nets and kete (baskets).

Each tribe had a native waka (canoe) and these waka where held together by flax fiber. When the flax fiber comes in touch with water it becomes significantly stronger therefore that’s why flax fiber was used allot for binding waka and also binding houses.

Back in the day, korowai (cloaks) were only worn by the major chiefs of each tribe. They where made by the method of weaving. You would have two sticks dug into the ground and then you would tie the muka to each stick. Then you would weave in the patterns and animal feathers. Now a days korowai are displayed at museums or they are worn by students on there graduation day. Each and every korowai has a background story to it. Whether it be about the chief who wore it or the tribe itself.

At first Maori women used the Pandanus plant for weaving baskets and clothes. Then they discovered flax, and found that the flax fibers where much stronger and more reliable. They then learned to obtain the strong fiber (muka) in the flax by scrapping the green flesh away with a sharp shell. The muka was pounded until soft, then washed, and sometimes dyed. Twisted, plaited and woven, it was used to make a wide range of things such as fishing lines, footwear, cords and ropes.