Harakeke (Phormium tenex)

Harakeke, native to New Zealand, is not technically a flax but a lily belonging to the Hemerocallidaceae family and is part of the genus Phormium.  It originally got its scientific name, Phormium tenex, from botanists Johann and Georg Forster who sailed with Captain James Cook. ‘Phormium’ is derived from the Greek word for basket, while ‘tenax’ is Latin for strong.  

Harakeke grows throughout New Zealand, from sea level to about 1,300m in altitude. It is commonly found in lowland wetlands and along rivers, and in coastal areas on estuaries, dunes and cliffs.  Harakeke was once abundant in many regions, but few large wild stands remain today. Harakeke is now common in gardens, in wetland restoration plantings, and for shelter belts and lining waterways on farmland (where it helps to absorb nitrogen).

Harakeke is prized by Māori and has traditionally been used for a variety of purposes, including for its natural medicinal properties, for making a range of woven garments and for its fibre to make ropes, fishing lines, traps and even footwear. The Harakeke flower nectar was used by Māori as a beverage and sweetener while the dried flower stalks were even lashed together as rafts (mokihi).

Harakeke is the principal weaving plant for Māori, and weavers select Harakeke leaves for weaving based on pliability, colour and fibre quality. Originally the Māori used the leaf strips to plait kete (containers) and whāriki (mats).  Over time they learnt that by scraping the green flesh away they could utilize the extracted fibre (or “muka”) for making kilts (“piupiu”) and to weave often prized traditional cloaks (“kākahu”) often combined with feathers.   

The gum and boiled roots were both used by Māori for medicinal purposes. The roots were roasted on hot stones and softened into poultices for abscesses, ulcers and other skin infections. The leaves were boiled and used as a blood purifier and the root juice applied to wounds as disinfectant. Gum (“Pia”) at the base of the plant was used for treating burns and ringworm.  Toothache was treated by dropping Harakeke juice into the cavity of the affected tooth and splints for broken bones were often made from the leaf base and leaf fibre or strips were used for sewing up a wound.  

Māori carefully farmed valued Harakeke in plantations and new plants were often cultivated from favoured bushes. The Māori have a symbolic approach to harvesting Harakeke which was viewed as a family. The central shoot or “rito” was the baby and the leaves on either side of it the “awhi rito” or “mātua” (its parents). Only the leaves on the outside – the “tupuna”, or grandparents, were cut, to limit the risk of weakening the plant. Māori usually say a prayer (or “karakia”) when harvesting Harakeke leaves, giving thanks to the plant and asking for protection for the plant, the harvester and to whoever will work with the cut material, or the finished article made from it in the future.  

Harakeke was such a crucial plant for the Māori’s way of life that when 19th-century missionary William Colenso told chiefs that it did not grow in England, they asked: “How is it possible to live there without it”?   

Harakeke was quickly recognised by early European explorers and settlers for its superior value as a fibre and they incorrectly thought Harakeke was a flax. Rope was in demand for rigging on sailing ships and for many other purposes and Harakeke fibre was ideal for this purpose. The Māori began trading fibre, made flax ropes for visiting ships and bartered flax in return for European goods.  Trade in Harakeke fibre progressively developed and Māori producers were often paid in guns which had a lasting negative impact on Māori society. Trade increased with the advent of mechanical flax stripping machines before progressively declining and the last “flax” mill closed in 1985.

There has been renewed interest in new uses for Harakeke in recent years and a wider awareness of its medicinial and therapetuic value. Harakeke seed oil has become recognized as a hydrating botanical that promotes skin health by increasing its natural regeneration through skin-softening and the healing of skin irritations. It is a rich source of omegas 3, 6 and 9 fatty acids which are nourishing for the skin and helps to restore depleted cells. Harakeke is also naturally astringent, which is good for oily and blemished skin.

Harakeke flowers create seeds through fertlization by native birds and bees in Spring and early summer. The seed pods usually burst open in late summer to release tens of black seeds which then germinate. To obtain Harakeke seed oil, the seeds are sustainably harvested, before the pods open, and carefully cold pressed to extract the natural oil.

Here at Black Teal Bay, we have been progressively planting Harakeke for more than a decade and our Harakeke are now at various stages of maturity.  We are trialing pressing of our Harakeke seeds to extract organic Harakeke oil which we plan to launch into our botanticals range from 2025.