Woven in Whakapapa: The Iwi Role in Harakeke’s Return. Day 2.
🛑 DISCLAIMER:
This is for entertainment purposes only.
But hypothetically...
If YOU were Iwi leadership — steering the waka — what would you do to rebuild the harakeke economy from the roots up?
This is what I would do...
1. Revitalise the Pa Harakeke 🌿
If I were iwi, I'd begin by reclaiming and revitalising our Pa Harakeke (Flax Gardens) as a foundation for economic and cultural renewal. This means identifying and restoring historical Harakeke-growing areas, working closely with local weavers, and integrating traditional knowledge with modern sustainable farming practices.
Marae-led initiatives could focus on hosting workshops and training programs, inviting skilled weavers and practitioners to share their knowledge on sustainable harakeke cultivation, processing, and fibre extraction techniques.
2. Build Iwi-Led Processing Infrastructure 🏭
Set up marae-based portable processing mills for localised production and processing of harakeke. This could include the creation of community-owned and iwi-managed mills to process harakeke locally, ensuring that all products — from fibre to finished goods — are made within the iwi and return value to the local community.
Co-invest in clean, sustainable technology for fibre separation and product development. These could be environmentally-friendly, low-impact mills that align with Māori values of kaitiakitanga (guardianship).
3. Create a National Iwi Harakeke Strategy 📜
Develop a strategic iwi-led blueprint for the harakeke industry that integrates culture, economics, and sustainability. This should include shared iwi visions for cultivation, harvesting, and selling, ensuring each iwi retains control over its resources while contributing to a nationwide movement.
Include long-term planning for land restoration and iwi-led businesses that benefit from sustainable practices and promote cultural revival alongside economic growth.
4. Empower Iwi Entrepreneurs and Weavers 💼
Establish funds for iwi enterprises tied to the harakeke value chain: from cultivation and harvesting to product development, design, and export. This fund would be aimed at boosting local iwi businesses, encouraging collaborations with designers, scientists, and international buyers.
Pay master weavers and craftspeople for their role as teachers and cultural preservers. Create national funding mechanisms for whānau and iwi to access financial support for intergenerational skill-building in weaving and product development.
5. Mātauranga Māori Integration 🧪
Integrate mātauranga Māori (indigenous knowledge) into all aspects of harakeke production and product development. This could include blending ancient weaving techniques with modern science and technology, creating innovative materials like bioplastics or textiles, all while honouring traditional tikanga.
Support research partnerships between iwi and universities focused on harakeke-based innovation, particularly in areas like bio-materials and sustainable fashion.
6. Create Sustainable Iwi Exports 📦
Develop a harakeke export model where iwi can tap into international markets for high-value products such as textiles, bioplastics, cosmetics, and health products. Weaving together traditional knowledge with modern consumer demand creates a competitive edge for iwi-driven enterprises.
Introduce a ‘Made from Harakeke’ label, helping iwi products gain recognition as sustainable, high-quality goods in global markets, drawing on the authenticity of mātauranga Māori as a marketing tool.
7. Incorporate Te Ao Māori in Industry Standards
Push for Te Ao Māori (the Māori world view) to be a foundational framework in national industry standards, especially around harakeke. This could include cultural protocols for harvest, respect for the environment, and a commitment to environmental restoration, ensuring Māori cultural values are upheld in every stage of the industry.
Promote a shift from extractive industries to regenerative practices, rooted in the principles of kaitiakitanga(stewardship) and whakapapa (ancestral connection).
8. Support Iwi-Led Educational Programs 📚
Establish whānau-focused educational programs in schools and iwi-run training centres focused on the harakeke industry, ensuring that the next generation has the knowledge, skills, and drive to continue growing the industry.
Integrate traditional weaving schools with modern curriculums focused on sustainable agriculture, design, and business. This ensures a deep connection between the art of weaving and the practicality of building a thriving, sustainable industry.
9. Incentivize Land and Wetland Restoration with Harakeke 🌱
Launch initiatives to restore iwi lands and wetlands with harakeke. These projects would both revitalise the landscape and offer iwi a chance to reclaim and reinvigorate cultural practices that have long been tied to their whenua.
Align land restoration efforts with carbon credit systems, eco-tourism, and biodiversity offsets that ensure iwi can benefit financially from their efforts to nurture the land through sustainable practices.
If I were Iwi, I would ensure that every step of this journey is driven by Māori values, led by iwi, and includes whānau, marae, and hapū in the creation of sustainable, long-lasting legacies. This is not just about growing harakeke — it’s about reviving an industry that honours our cultural inheritance, strengthens our economies, and restores the whenua.
So, are you ready to lead the way in rebuilding the harakeke economy and reviving the legacy of our ancestors? Because this is just the beginning, and it's all in your hands.
