Last Thursday, 6th August, Room 3 visited Take Take Gallery, Whakatane, to make paper out of flax with Sue Gulliver-Birkett. This activity was done as a part of our Harakeke Inquiry. The children cut flax off-cuts into small pieces, boiled them in a large pot. Pulp was prepared and the children were able to use this in their paper making process. They also saw some of Matua Niel’s carvings and he explained many things about carving, protocols, legend and types of wood. Sue also showed the children her exhibition which was well worth seeing.
11 Aug
Posted by Karim Nomura on September 26, 2009 at 7:39 pm
this is amazing. is there a video that i can watch? I am quite interested in making paper out of flax, as an alternative to commercial paper. Having watched the documentary Home by Yann Arthus-Bertrand, I feel we ought to search for alternatives that can minimize or substitute the use of products that are not friendly to the environment.
Posted by probertson on October 13, 2009 at 3:39 pm
> Hi Karim, Sorry it’s taken ages to reply. Have been on holidays and away. If you would like further information, I suggest you contact the TakeTake Gallery in Whakatane. There are people there who make the Paper out of flax, toi toi, all sorts of different materials. Sue Gulliver/Birkett is the lady that taught my class about Paper Making and I know there are other people. Regards Pam Robertson
Posted by Andrew Reilly on January 22, 2010 at 3:15 pm
Hi,
There are a few people around who make paper from flax and/or alternative fibres. If you cannot access a video, I am based in Bulls and know a few others around the country. I can run workshops and also make papers to sell if you are interested.
To find more information…. search on Facebook for Tenax papers.
Cheers
Andrew Reilly (Tenax Papers)
Posted by probertson on February 4, 2010 at 11:26 am
> Thank you for your comment and advise. Regards Pam Robertson
Posted by Lucca Mitchell on March 4, 2010 at 8:43 pm
hay miss robertson is that tutpup join now thing free because i wont to join so i can do some maths to help me but i dont know if its free
Posted by probertson on March 5, 2010 at 9:33 am
Hi Lucca, I’m not sure. Will check it out.
Posted by Geraldine KareKare on March 18, 2010 at 3:43 pm
would love to show anyone how to make harakeke paper. I work for te wananga o aotearoa and we are situated on te tahi street in whakatane(past trident high school). Or if coming from town turn off on te arawa rd then onto tetahi street.
Kia Ora Geraldine
Posted by probertson on March 25, 2010 at 9:49 am
Thanks Geraldine. We’re not doing Harakeke this Term. Thanks for the offer.
Posted by heather freedman on April 22, 2011 at 4:58 pm
is flax a possible plant for use in paper making instead of using old growth forest?
how well does it grow, how much water does it need, and how long must one wait before it reaches harvesting?
is it a sustainable crop in temperate places?
Posted by probertson on May 2, 2011 at 1:59 pm
Hi Heather, Flax is a very good resource for making paper. It usually grows in swampy conditions, likes lots of water, will grow in clay and is a very hearty grower. I grew flax in Auckland and the bush took a couple of years to be fully grown and able to be used. There are protocols about how to cut ie. don’t cut baby flax, let it grow to maturity etc. Books will help you know about this.
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