Flax Collection glossary

Terms used in relation to the harakeke collection

A
aho	in weaving, a weft
H
harakeke	swamp or lowland flax, Phormium tenax
hāro method	to strip fibre from harakeke leaf with a shell
K
kaitaka	a fine cloak, with an ornamental border
kakahu	garment, cloak
kete	basket
korowai	a cloak ornamented with black twisted cords
kōrari	flower stalk of harakeke. In some areas, another word for harakeke
M
muka	dressed flax fibre, whītau
P
para	the leaf tissue scraped from harakeke fibre
piupiu	a waist garment with a swinging fringe
putiputi	flower
pīkau	backpack, pack
pōtae	cap, hat
R
raranga	weaving, plaiting
rito	centre growing shoot of harakeke
rourou	small food basket
T
tīhore	a fine harakeke variety - 'can be scraped clean with a fingernail only'
W
wharariki	coastal or mountain flax, Phormium cookianum
whenu	in weaving, a warp
whāriki	floor mat
whītau	dressed harakeke fibre, muka