This document provides information on various indigenous New Zealand plants traditionally used in weaving, their properties, and some traditional uses. It includes descriptions and images of harakeke/flax, kiekie, pingao, toetoe, raupo, aute, nikau palm, kuta, tī kōuka/cabbage tree, and other plants. Their uses are summarized as including weaving kete baskets, whāriki mats, kākahu cloaks, and for other traditional Māori crafts and materials.

1. Raranga, Whatu, Täniko
and
Tukutuku
Prepared by Ria Waikerepuru for kawai Raupapa L4 Raranga, Te Wanananga o Aotearoa
Acknowledgement to:
Te Wananga o Raukawa from where the original power point presentation originated

2.  Harakeke  Tï
 Kiekie  Houhere
 Pïngao  Kuta
 Toetoe Käkaho  Nïkau
 Raupo  Kaaretu
 Aute  Neinei

3. Ranginui Papatuanuku
Tanemahuta Pakotii
Harakeke Muka Harakeke Wharariki

4.  Phormium tenax
 Erect leaves
 Flower/seed pod
grows upwards
 Generally useable
fibre (muka)

5.  Many varieties
 Coloured leaf
edges and keel
 Leaf colour
 Leaf shape
 Körari colour and
form

6.  Phormium
cookianum
 Soft droopy
leaf
 Yellow flower
 Seed pod
grows
downwards

7.  Kete
 Whäriki
 Käkahu
 Taura (cordage)
 Rongoa

8.  Freycinetia banksii
 Ngahere
 Epiphyte
 Long slender leaves

9.  Rhizome
 Serrated edges
 Midrib
 Two prominent
fibre veins

10.  Kete whakairo
 Whäriki
 Tukutuku
 Käkahu

11.  “Manaakitia ngä tukemata o Tane ”

12.  Desmoschoenus
spiralis
 Sand sedge
 Sand dunes

13.  Slender spikey
leaves
 Green with gold
tips
 Rhizome
 Serrated edges

14.  Kete whakairo
 Tukutuku
 Whäriki (iwi)
 Pootae

15.  “ E rere ai te kakaho i te waru “

16.  Cortaderia toetoe
 Käkaho - stem of
flower
 Hard
 Hollow
 Softer, droop
 Cutty Grass

17.  Pampus Grass
 Softer stem
 White/reddish
flower
 Stands upright

18. 100
0 Ea
4th st
1st Qtr
Qtr
 Tukutuku
 Rafts
 Rongoa
 Manu tukutuku
100 Ea
0 st
1st Qtr
4th Qtr

19.  Typha orientalis
 Bullrush
 Wainui

20.  Poi
 Whare
 Manu tukutuku
 Kai

22.  Broussonetia
papyrifera
 Introduced
 „The Skin of Taane‟
 Tapa

23.  Kaakahu
 Manu Aute
 Hei taaringa

24.  Cordyline australis
 Many varieties
 Cabbage Tree
 Tikouka / tikauka

25.  Kete
 Kaakahu
 Taura
 Kai
 Numerous

26.  Cordyline indivisa
 Tii Toii – Toii
 Mountain Cabbage
tree

27.  Kaakahu – Kahu
Toii

28.  Hoheria populnea
 Lacebark
 Light
 Lowland
ngahere, northern
north Island

29.  Kaakahu
 Raranga
 Poi
 Summer clothing
 „The cape to be washed was
spread out on a surface of
water (not placed on a stone
or slab), the bluish
clay, uku,was applied as a
soap, and the cape was
beaten with strips of lacebark
or the butts of toetoe stalks‟

30.  Scirpus lacustris
 Lake club-rush
 Waawaa, kutakuta,
paopao
 Hollow

31.  Whaariki
 Kaakahu
 „The stems were left covered
by old mats for three days at
the end of which time they
turned a brownish-red and
were ready to be hung up to
dry in preparation for weaving‟

32.  Rhopalostylis
sapida
 Niikau palm
 Lowland ngahere
of north Island and
some parts of
South Island

33.  Roof thatching
 Whaariki
 Weaving

34.  Hierochloe
redolens
 Scented grass
 Wet grassland and
scrub
 Flat bright green
leaves
 Long red stems

35.  Scent
 Tu Kaaretu
 Neck Satchets
 Anklets
 Symbolic role in
social
customs, e.g.
courtship, marriag
e, aiding
conception

36.  Dracophyllum
traversii
 Mountain Neinei
 Grass Tree
 Nelson to Arthurs
Pass
 „A spectacular pure stand
grows on the main ridge
leading from the Flora Hut to
the summit of Mt Arthur”

37.  Kaakahu