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| Phormium tenax or harakeke |
Harakeke (Phormium tenax and Phormium cookianum) is also known
as New Zealand flax. It is not
related to the common flax (Linum usitatissimum), but
because it has long fibres in the blade (leaves) and could be used to make
ropes and fabrics it was named flax by the European settlers. It has been used
for many purposes by the Maori. Indeed, Judy Te Hiki, my tutor at the Kaipatiki Project
papermaking day explained that it was the many properties and uses of harakeke
which allowed the original Maori settlers to survive in NZ when their imported
plants failed to thrive in the harsher climate here (in comparison to their
more tropical origins), and was a major export for New Zealand at one stage.
We have plenty of the raw material in our garden so it seemed right to take the opportunity to learn more about the plant and recently I have had the pleasure of taking part in two
workshops, both making different uses of the harakeke.
The first course was papermaking held at the Kaipatiki Project in Beach Haven near Auckland. The Kaipatiki project organises many
eco-friendly events and workshops which I am always keen to get to if I can. On
this day we learned how to harvest the blade sustainably and for the continued
health of the plant, and many of the traditions which should be observed when
working with the flax. For instance, pregnant
women are not supposed to work the flax (it is tapu or forbidden) as they are considered as food
because they are a food source for their baby and you do not mix food and harakeke! My suspicion is that this
particular tradition was developed by pregnant women themselves in order to get
out of doing some hard physical work!!
For papermaking, we shredded the blades on a stick with nails (nailboard) in, chopped
them into small sections, boiled them for a couple of hours and blended them in
a strong food processor. To speed up the process, we used some fibres which had
been boiled on previous courses and had then been left to sit in a barrel of water.
A little strongly smelling I have to say! (Our boiled pulp will be used by people
on the next course).
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| Judy explains about the harakeke and how to harvest it |
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| Judy using the nailboard to shred the blades. |
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| And chopping the fibres. Though scissors worked too. |
The pulp was then added to a vat of water and using a deckle
to catch the fibres we created the sheets of paper. In essence, this is the
same as any other paper making and for stronger papers I would probably add in
other fibres.
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| Rinsing the stored pulp - a stinky job for me! |
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| Pulp ready to add to the water vat |
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| Judy showing us how to use a deckle |
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| Removing excess water |
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| A sheet of paper ready for drying |
However, it is a beautifully textured surface and I might well be
using some in my future pieces. We could also have a go at making a bowl and biodegradable plant pots.
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| A table full of paper at the end of the day |
Though it wasn't actually used in paper making, pounding the blades can also be done to begin the process of separating the 'muka' or fibres from the other plant material. I enjoyed the textures in the fibres which were created just by doing this. I am not sure how they will dry, but it is worth an experiment I think.
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| Pounded harakeke blade |
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| A kauri harakeke beater -very efficient, and easier than the traditional 'patu muka' or beating stone. |
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| The pounded blades laid in a woven pattern |
The second course was with Kath Stevenson at her shop in
Warkworth where she makes and sells her woven harakeke baskets and sculptures.
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| Getting started. Kath and I. You can see some of her sculptures and baskets in the background. |
During
this morning we prepared the blades for weaving, then gradually wove a basket.
I was shown how to make a beautiful plaited edge and by shredding the remaining
sections of the blade, how to use these to make plaited decorations, handles
and decorative hairy edges. There are of course many variations and much more
complicated variations on the basket weaving and edging, but I was very pleased
to have created a practical and beautiful basket.
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| Choosing, preparing and cleaning the blades |
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| Exposing the 'boomerang', and beginning the weaving |
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| Got to get this part right! |
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| The base all woven, tightened and ready to start shaping into a basket. |
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| Kath showing me how to work up the sides |
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| All woven and ready for the finishing edge to be created |
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| Making the plait at the top was so clever. Hope I can remember how to do this again! |
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| Shredding and plaiting the muka |
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| Making a long plait by adding in extra blades. Neat trick! |
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| Basket complete |
It will gradually dry, losing
its green tones and become a strong basket in a natural golden colour. I have
discovered this morning that the cat seems to like chewing at these hairy bits,
so I will have to find a place she can’t reach whilst the basket dries!
A great big thank you to Judy and Kath for your time and
expertise. I should really have been working on my exhibition pieces for
October, but hey …
Back to it now!
