Weaving with harakeke

• 
  
• 
  
• We are learning about things that are important to Maori people because the whole school is going to visit a marae.
• We did some weaving with harakeke.
• The flax plant (harakeke) is a very important plant for the Maori people. When the Maori people first came to New Zealand, they used it to weave bags to carry things in, mats for sleeping on, and even to make clothes.
• 
  
• Moira and Lovey came to teach us how to weave with flax.
• First the flax had to be cut. It was a sunny day which was good because flax can’t be cut in the rain. This can damage the flax bush.
• 
  
• Next Moira said a karakia (prayer) before she cut the flax from the bush. She only cut the outside leaves off the bush. The inside leaves are the pepe (baby) and cutting them cuts the life out of the flax bush.
• 
  
• Then we took turns splitting and preparing the leaves for weaving.
• 
  
• Back inside the classroom, Moira demonstrated how to weave a putiputi (flower). It took a lot of focus and help from teachers but we did it. We gave our first flower away because that is Maori protocol.
• 
  
• 
  
• 
  
• 
  
•