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Ruawai

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Grown widely on the East Coast and prized for its long, white silky fibres of superior quality. Strips easily and cleanly. Ideal for whenu (warp) and aho (weft) for kaitaka, korowai and muka kete. Used in kaitaka kete as it dries white when boiled for one minute.

Babies on the East Coast were once placed in tightly woven baskets for almost the first year of their lives. They were covered with a bundle of silky muka fibres which could be changed and washed.
  Source Details
Cultivar No Source: Rene Orchiston  14
Source Source: Rene Orchiston  Near Mt. Hikurangi. From Pine Taiapa, noted master carver of the Ngāti Porou.
Description Source: Rene Orchiston

 Tall, rather bendy leaves. Bright, light blue-green blades. Silver-blue, powdery underside. Black margin and keel. Orange keel and black margin on young leaf. Silver-purple shadings at base of plant. Similar to the cultivar Kōhunga.
Uses Source: Rene Orchiston

Grown widely on the East Coast and prized for its long, white silky fibres of superior quality. Strips easily and cleanly. Ideal for whenu (warp) and aho (weft) for kaitaka, korowai and muka kete. Used in kaitaka kete as it dries white when boiled for one minute.

Babies on the East Coast were once placed in tightly woven baskets for almost the first year of their lives. They were covered with a bundle of silky muka fibres which could be changed and washed.
Muka extraction Source: Katarina Tawiri  Muka extracts cleanly, para sticks to fibre. Medium to small amount of fibre.
Raranga - unboiled Source: Katarina Tawiri  Easy to soften, edges do not fray. A good raranga flax.

Gallery

Ruawai: bush with kōrari Image
Ruawai: bush with kōrari
Ruawai: seed pods Image
Ruawai: seed pods
Ruawai: seed pods Image
Ruawai: seed pods
Ruawai: leaves Image
Ruawai: leaves

Information sources

Source: Rene OrchistonRene Orchiston

Source: Katarina TawiriKatarina Tawiri

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