Waitangi Day 2022

Google Dooles 05.02.2022 16:30  Date: February 6, 2022 In honor of Waitangi Day, a day that recognises the 1840 signing of Te Tiriti o Waitangi in Aotearoa New Zealand, today’s Doodle features the harakeke plant in celebration of the island nation’s unique native flora. The common flax, also known as harakeke in te reo Māori, is one of New Zealand’s most ancient endemic plant species and one of its most revered. Its tall, green blades of flax leaves and vibrant flowers provide both shelter and abundant food for New Zealand’s wildlife community, which include tūī and korimako . Māori regard harakeke as a crucial fiber plant for raranga, the art of flax weaving. It is used to create everything from baskets to floor mats—even raincoats can be created by combining the harakeke’s hard outer layers together with its soft inner fibers. Māori believe these different layers symbolize the family lineage—the outer layer represents the grandparents, while the inner layer represents the parents wrapped around the innermost new shoots symbolizing the children who all previous generations protect. Ngā mihi o te wā Aotearoa New Zealand. Early Drafts of the Doodle Location: Tags: , , ,