Te Marama o Matariki He Maramataka Māori -
Whiringa-ā-nuku
5th Month of the Matariki Year - October/November
Mai i ngā huringa āwhio o Aotahi me te hokinga mai o te Koekoeā i tōna haerenga tawhiti nui tawhiti roa, he tohu tēnei me tīmata te whakatikatika i te whenua mō te whakatō i te kūmara. Kei te kai te Tūi i ngā putiputi o te Harakeke. Kei te mahana ake a Papatūānuku kua rite te wā mō te tō i te kākano. He maha, he nui ngā mahi ahuwhenua.
The celestial movements of Canopus and the return of the Long-tailed Cuckoo from migration signals the time to prepare ground for planting the kūmara crops. Tui are feeding on the flowers of Flax. Earth is now warm and ready for seed. People are busy with gardens.
Te Tohu o Kaupeka - Harakeke
Sign of the Season - New Zealand Flax (Phormium tenax)
‘Hutia te rito. Hutia te rito o te harakeke. Kei hea te korimako e ko? Ki mai ki ahau, he aha te mea nui i te Ao? Maku e ki atu e, He tangata, He tangata, He tangata he!’
‘Pull out the centre of the flax plant, Where will the bellbird sing?
What is the most significant thing in the world? I say it is people, people, people!’
This waiata (song) refers to the importance of sustaining the lifeforce of Harakeke as a message of conservation, reminding us that our actions today impact upon our ability to survive tomorrow.
When Harakeke flowers appear the earth has warmed up and is ready for seed. People are planting their gardens.
Harakeke, an extremely important plant to Māori and one of the oldest species native to New Zealand and Norfolk Island can be found growing to 3m tall along river banks, in swamps and wetlands, on headlands and hillsides exposed to sunlight.
Harakeke represents the wellbeing and strength of whānau or family and tribe.
When a new shoot or rito appears it is held by awhi rito or parents, who in turn are embraced by tūpuna, grandparents and ancestors. The leaf of the whaea or mother is closest to the rito, the leaf opposite the whaea is the matua or father. When a new rito appears, matua become tupuna, whaea become matua and rito become whaea. When harvesting, only tūpuna are cut from each fan in the flax clump, the leaves of grandparents are used for production and ancestors return to base of the plant to nourish the whānau. If the rito is cut the plant dies. If awhi rito are cut the rito is vulnerable. Harvesting ceases during Whiringa-ā-nuku (5th Matariki month) when dark red-black flowers appear on tall stalks, allowing the plant to rest and replenish and the Tui, Korimako, Tauhou and Geckos to feed on the nectar. Harvest resumes in Hakihea (7th Matariki month) when seed pods have set.
Harakeke has many traditional uses.
