New Zealand native flax (Phormium tenax, also called harakeke in Māori) is a highly versatile and culturally significant plant. Its uses span traditional Māori practices, modern applications, and ecological benefits.

1. Traditional Māori Uses

Weaving and Fiber Production

  • Mats and Clothing: Harakeke fibers were woven into garments, such as cloaks (kākahu), and mats (whāriki).
  • Baskets and Containers: Leaves were used to make kete (baskets) and other containers for carrying food and tools.
  • Ropes and Cordage: Fibers were twisted into ropes (muka) for fishing lines, nets, and binding.

Medicine (Rongoā Māori)

  • Wound Dressing:
    • The sap from the base of the leaves was applied as an antiseptic to cuts, burns, and wounds.
    • Fibers were used to bind wounds.
  • Digestive Aid: Extracts from the roots were used to treat constipation and other digestive issues.

Dyeing

  • Leaves and roots were boiled with natural mordants to create dyes for coloring textiles.

2. Modern Applications

Gardening and Landscaping

  • Ornamental Plant: Harakeke is popular in gardens for its striking sword-like leaves and tall flower spikes.
  • Erosion Control: Its deep root system stabilizes soil and prevents erosion on slopes and riverbanks.
  • Shelterbelts: Acts as a windbreak and shelter for livestock or other crops.

Crafts and Art

  • Used in modern weaving for creating decorative items, wall hangings, and contemporary art.

Sustainable Materials

  • Textiles: Harakeke fibers are being explored for use in eco-friendly textiles and composites.
  • Paper Production: Fibers can be used to make high-quality paper.

3. Ecological Benefits

  • Habitat for Wildlife:
    • Flowers produce nectar that attracts native birds (e.g., tūī and bellbirds) and pollinators like bees.
    • Provides shelter for insects and small animals.
  • Wetland Restoration: Harakeke thrives in wet environments and helps filter pollutants from water.

4. Cultural and Spiritual Significance

  • Symbolism:
    • Harakeke is a symbol of family and community, with the inner leaves representing children, outer leaves the parents, and older leaves the ancestors.
  • Protocols: Traditionally, flax is harvested with care and respect, following Māori tikanga (customs), such as never cutting the central shoot (rito), as it ensures the plant’s survival.

Harvesting and Preparation

  • Leaves are cut close to the base, leaving the central shoot intact. Fibers are extracted by scraping and washing the leaves, then softened and processed for various uses.
Practical uses for flax

Practical uses for flax

New Zealand Flax, the native Phormium tenax, is an excellent plant to include in the forest garden. Not only does it grow in almost all conditions from wet to dry and full sun to shade, flax has some great practical applications.

The plant produces tall flower stalks that feed native bell birds. These stalks can be over 2 meters long and can be used for poles in the garden. While not as long lasting as bamboo, the flax poles decay after a season or 2, they are extremely light and easy to work with.

The flax leaves contain extremely tough fibres making them ideal fro tying and weaving. From simple rope to intricate baskets, woven mats and dental floss, the flax leaves and fibres are very versatile and durable.

I use flax constantly for tying and training plants. Being biodegradable is an added bonus as it breaks down into the soil and trees tied with flax will not strangle.
Olmec Sinclair

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Natural woven flax weed mat

Natural woven flax weed mat

Details   Here's a simple technique for reducing weeds in a small garden. Biodegradable woven flax mats with seeds or small plants added in the gaps.
Date   September 11, 2018
Tags     2018  September 
Preparing the flax strips for your square basket

Preparing the flax strips for your square basket

Details   This design requires 2 sets of an even number (4, 6, 8 etc.) to create the square base and parallel sides. These 2 sets will be woven together at right angles or perpendicular to one another.

The larger the number of strips the bigger the floor area of the basket will be and the shorter the walls can be. Using more strips increases the difficulty and time involved in fabrication.

Making a very small basket (2 sets of 4) is fiddly so start with 2 lots of 6 as demonstrated here.

Split the flax leaves into strips of a uniform width between 15 and 25mm. The wider the strips the more they will shrink as they dry resulting in a basket with more gaps. Smaller strips can be woven tighter and produce a smaller but tidier and stronger basket.
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Create a simple flax basket

We will teach you how to weave a traditional Maori square basket. Made from natural flax fibre grown at blockhill, this simple pattern can be used to create baskets of various sizes.

Identify, harvest and prepare flax leaves before weaving your own small basket to take away.
1 hour
  education  craft  weaving 
$40.00
View 4 photos

NZ Bronze Flax

Common name   NZ Bronze Flax
Date   July 15, 2012
Details   Broadly spreading, evergreen. Broad drooping or stiffly erect bronze to purple blades. Erect flower stalks attract tuis and bellbirds.
Evergreen  
Forest layer   shrub
Height (m)   2
Botanical name   Phormium purpureum
Wind tolerance   High

Creating the corners of the flax basket

Details   The 4 corners of the basket are located at the mid point along each of the 4 sides of the square, half way between each of the red pegs. This is why 2 sets of an even number of strips is required, so that the side can be divided in half.

The 3 on the left are woven through the 3 on the right, continuing the weaving pattern of over - under to create a vertical triangle. Clip the tip of the triangle to hold it.

Repeat this process with the remaining 3 corners so you have 4 of these triangles rising from the flat floor of the basket
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New Zealand Flax

New Zealand Flax

Propagation method   Division
Botanical name   Phormium tenax
Details   Useful to tying materials. Loved by bell birds and other nectar feeders.
Diameter   1.00
Forest layer   shrub
Height (m)   2-4
Flowers   Orange
Evergreen  
Shade / Sun   Full sun - Shade
Soil type   Most
Wind tolerance   High
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Tools and equipment required for creating a simple woven flax basket

Tools and equipment required for creating a simple woven flax basket

Details   Flax is very fibrous and tough, a good sharp pair of garden hand pruning secateurs are the ideal tool for cleanly cutting the leaves to length. Collecting and preparing flax without modern metal tools must have been rather difficult.

Working with the long, slippery strips can be difficult in the beginning. Clothes pegs are helpful for holding corners and edges while you work, helping prevent things coming apart while you work. If you don't have pegs on hand (the early Maori certainly didn't) you can create your own from the thick base of the flax leaves. Cut short pieces and add a slit.
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Flax planting

Flax planting

September 13, 2008

The recent wet period has left plenty of indication where water collects and runs. Today we filled in some of the damper gaps between the trees with native flax. One day their flowers will attract Bell Birds and possibly Tui.

Update - This planting project was abandoned as the land acquisition fell through. Subsequently the grass smothered almost all the plants.