Karakia before cutting the Harakeke.

This Karakia is about being in the moment and acknowledging what you are doing and thanking Tane the God of the forest for the harakeke we are about to use as a resource for our workshop.

E Tane te Matua

Tenei te oha

Te aroha

Homai te taonga

Tenei mihi

Tihei mauri ora

This is about acknowledging Tane

I am humbled and open to receive gifts from your environment.

I only take what I need

May the breath of life sustain us all.

*Once you have cut the flax you take a moment to acknowledge what you have be given.

KARAKIA

Te Harakeke, Te Korari

Nga taonga whakarere iho

O te Rangi,

O te Whenua

O ngā Tipuna

Homai he oranga mō mātou

Tihei Mauri Ora!

Translation:

Flax

The treasure passed down to us

By the sky, the land, the ancestors

Gives us health

For our life force

Check out more information about weaving and

instructions on how to utilise our harakeke

Māori liken the flax plant to a family, with the central shoot (rito) representing the baby. The leaves protecting the rito are called the parents (awhi rito or mātua). Only the leaves on the outside of the plant, the grandparents (tūpuna), can be cut, or else the plant will be weakened.: Flax fish for Matariki - Fifi Colston instructions: c726fff595d3eb77ef8ef3979179ffb6.jpg 960×730 pixels: