Ngā Rauropi Whakaoranga

Taiore, Taeore

Harakeke cultivar A fine variety. Tall, bendy, pale blue green leaves, powdery blue on reverse. Similar to Kōhunga but finer and slightly more droopy. Black margins and keel. Plenty of very tall, light-weight flower heads.

Fine, strong, easily stripped with a shell. Produces long strands of silky white fibre used for aho (weft) in fine cloaks. Fibre in muka kete dries to a soft creamy colour. When leaves are boiled for kete a pale fawn colour is produced - deeper shade when unboiled. Strips prepared for kete and whariki will not shrink after being woven if boiled or dragged through boiling water before weaving.

Mrs. Orchiston reports that the seed pods and kōrari have provided her with a fine range of apricot toned dyes for handspun wool.