Kete Whakairo

Anyone can learn to plait a kete whakairo from the long blades of harakeke, commonly known as New Zealand flax. This book, Kete Whakairo: Plaiting Flax for Beginners, gives detailed, step-by-step instructions and illustrations for plaiting a beginner's version of this type of kete.

Margaret Rose Ngawaka first became interested in her native craft of plaiting when a group of tutors were invited to teach women in a small northern community on Great Barrier Island, New Zealand, in 1998. Margaret Rose has maintained this traditional art and skill. She continues this folk art of Raranga by teaching others who are interested.