Uses for flax

=Traditional uses of Flax=

Flax Gum - Pia Harakeke

 * Toothache gum stuffed into holes in sore teeth as a painkiller
 * Used to stick feathers together and onto korowai (cloaks)

Flax Root - Roi harakeke

 * Inner part of roasted root eaten for constipation
 * Nihotuka (toothache) cured by pouring the juice of the flax root into the ear
 * The sufferer would give a cold shiver and then recover quickly

Clothing - Weruweru

 * Paraerae - sandals
 * Rapaki - waist mat
 * Whareama - hat
 * Maro - loincloth
 * Kinikini - kilt or skirt
 * Kakahu iti - small shoulder cloak

Flax leaf

 * Lower ends were used to make a cinnamon coloured dye
 * Potaka (spinning tops) used harakeke string to make them spin
 * Pepepe (toy windmills) were made from leaves twisted in a star shape

Flower Stalk - Kōrari

 * Purotu (flute) had 4-6 holes made from the kōrari rakau (wood)
 * Ru kōrari is a sweet drink made from shaking nectar from the flower heads
 * Mokihi (raft) was made from bundled kōrari and tied together

=Pakeha uses of Flax=
 * Early Europeans used flax fibre to make rope for their sailing ships
 * Later uses were for woolpacks for farmers, carpet underfelt, floor coverings, upholstery materials and binder twine (string)

=Modern uses of Flax=