Join Te Kākano Aotearoa Trust for a hands on workshop exploring how to harvest harakeke (flax) respectfully and learn a simple weaving technique to create a plant guard. These beautiful and practical guards can be used to protect vegetable seedlings as well as young trees that need shelter from wind and pests. No previous experience or equipment is required.
Te Kākano Aotearoa Trust is a Wānaka based non profit organisation that eco sources seeds from the Upper Clutha region, raises seedlings in its extensive nursery, and supports community led native planting and habitat restoration. Through plant propagation, planting, maintenance, education and ongoing participation, Te Kākano works closely with local community groups, schools, businesses and individuals to promote hands on community land care.
This workshop is part of Te Kākano’s Interwoven project, which began in late 2023 as part of the organisation’s education programme to integrate mātauranga Māori. With support from local weaver Enger, a harakeke plant guard design was developed to help protect native plants established through community planting efforts.
The Interwoven project aims to establish harakeke as a sustainable and biodegradable alternative to plastic plant guards, strengthen authentic connections with tangata whenua, and honour the knowledge that mātauranga Māori offers for the future of Aotearoa New Zealand. It also seeks to educate and empower communities, especially young people, to explore sustainable alternatives to plastic in environmental restoration.
This programme is made possible thanks to the Warbirds over Wānaka Community Trust, Sargood Bequest, the Di Buchan Environmental Trust and Queenstown Lakes District Council.