Story: Mātaitai – shellfish gathering

Flax preparation

Flax preparation

This weaver at Whakarewarewa uses a mussel shell to scrape the wax from a flax leaf, exposing the fibres used in weaving.

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New Zealand Māori Arts and Crafts Institute
Photograph by Shirley Williams

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How to cite this page:

Mere Whaanga, 'Mātaitai – shellfish gathering - Mussels, oysters, toheroa and other species', Te Ara - the Encyclopedia of New Zealand, http://www.TeAra.govt.nz/en/photograph/8118/flax-preparation (accessed 29 April 2024)

Story by Mere Whaanga, published 12 Jun 2006