Te kāuru
Te Kāuru represents growth and potential.
Like the centre of the harakeke plant, rangatahi are nurtured as the heart of the kaupapa — supported by knowledge, creativity, and community to grow new pathways for their futures.
Te Kāuru Harakeke Enterprise Lab supports rangatahi and communities to rediscover the cultural, environmental, and economic potential of harakeke (Phormium tenax).
Through practical learning and enterprise development, rangatahi explore sustainable fibre innovation, creative design, and business capability while strengthening connections to culture and community.
Our MissionTe Kāuru exists to restore the cultural, environmental, and economic potential of harakeke in Aotearoa through research, education, and enterprise development.
We empower rangatahi and communities with practical skills, mātauranga Māori, and sustainable enterprise pathways that support environmental regeneration, cultural revitalisation, and long-term economic opportunity.
Through innovation, capability building, and youth leadership, Te Kāuru contributes to the ongoing restoration and growth of the harakeke industry in Aotearoa.
We are committed to upskilling the next generation of rangatahi — nurturing the leaders, innovators, and weavers who will drive the growth and sustainability of Aotearoa’s harakeke industry.
poutama
The work of Te Kāuru is guided by a pathway of growth — reflected in the poutama pattern, where each step builds on the last to support collective progress.
Like the poutama, each part of the system represents a step in the pursuit of knowledge — grounded in whakapapa and moving upward through shared understanding.
Through culture, enterprise, and rangatahi leadership, Te Kāuru programmes create opportunities for young people to explore their potential while remaining anchored in cultural knowledge and community.
Culture
Harakeke carries deep cultural knowledge and history in Aotearoa.
Te Kāuru programmes honour this knowledge by integrating mātauranga Māori, tikanga, and sustainable harvesting practices into learning experiences for rangatahi.
Participants gain an understanding of the cultural significance of harakeke while exploring how these traditions can inspire new innovation.
Te Kāuru supports rangatahi to transform creativity and knowledge into practical enterprise opportunities.
Through the Te Kāuru Harakeke Enterprise Lab, participants develop skills in product design, idea development, financial planning, and ethical business practices.
These skills help rangatahi explore pathways into creative industries, sustainable fibre innovation, and entrepreneurship.
rangatahi
Rangatahi are the heart of the kaupapa.
Te Kāuru programmes are designed to build confidence, creativity, and leadership in young people. Through mentorship, collaboration, and hands-on learning, rangatahi are supported to explore their own ideas and develop the skills needed to shape their futures.
By nurturing rangatahi capability today, Te Kāuru helps cultivate the next generation of innovators, creators, and enterprise leaders in Aotearoa.
enterprise
Te Kāuru Core Values
The work of Te Kāuru is guided by values that reflect our commitment to rangatahi, culture, and responsible enterprise development.
-
Honouring the knowledge, traditions, and ancestral connections that shape our understanding of harakeke. Rangatahi programmes are grounded in cultural context and intergenerational knowledge, strengthening identity, confidence, and leadership potential.
-
Upholding the dignity, value, and inherent potential of every individual. Te Kāuru creates spaces where rangatahi can stand confidently in who they are, recognising their worth as creators, innovators, and future leaders.
-
Building strong relationships and collaborative networks that strengthen communities and connect rangatahi with mentors, peers, and industry partners.
-
Respecting and protecting the natural environment through sustainable practice. Harakeke is treated as a taonga, and participants learn responsible harvesting, environmental care, and stewardship of resources.
-
Applying traditional knowledge alongside contemporary innovation to guide sustainable enterprise, creative practice, and cultural revitalisation.
-
Encouraging rangatahi to explore new ideas inspired by traditional knowledge. Programmes create space for creative thinking, experimentation, and the development of new enterprise possibilities connected to harakeke.
-
Ensuring ethical practice across all aspects of programme delivery, including respect for cultural knowledge, responsible use of intellectual property, and transparency in enterprise development.
-
Te Kāuru is guided by a commitment to future generations. Inspired by the strength and resilience of the tī kōuka and the wisdom passed down through whakapapa, we encourage rangatahi to look ahead with confidence, creativity, and purpose.
Through knowledge, innovation, and enterprise development, rangatahi are supported to re-imagine new possibilities and contribute to the future growth of sustainable industries connected to harakeke.
-
Empowering rangatahi to lead with confidence and self-determination. Te Kāuru nurtures the capability of the next generation to shape their own futures and contribute to the regeneration and growth of the harakeke industry.
The Origins of Te Kāuru
The name Te Kāuru carries deep ancestral significance. It is the name of my great ancestors — passed down through generations within our whānau. Those who carried this name were known for their strength and integrity, each walking their own path of purpose and responsibility.
My grandmother often spoke about this name. At times, it felt like she spoke in riddles — words layered with meaning I would only come to understand later in life. She spoke of the honour the name carried, of the tī kōuka tree, and of the treetops reaching high into the sky, looking out toward the future.
Those kōrero stayed with me.
Like the tī kōuka that stands resilient across the landscapes of Aotearoa, Te Kāuru speaks to endurance, regeneration, and foresight — the ability to remain rooted while continuing to rise. Even in harsh conditions, it endures, adapts, and grows again.
Alongside this, harakeke offers another layer of understanding. Where tī kōuka reaches upward, harakeke grounds us. Her structure reflects whānau — the rito at the centre, protected and nurtured by those around it. It teaches us about connection, responsibility, and the importance of collective strength.
Together, these two taonga reflect a balanced system:
to be deeply grounded in whakapapa, while also reaching forward into the future.
This philosophy sits at the heart of the Te Kāuru Harakeke Enterprise Lab.
Just as the rito of the harakeke is protected and nurtured, our rangatahi are the centre of this kaupapa — carrying potential, creativity, and leadership. And like the tī kōuka, they are supported to stand tall, adapt, and grow into the future with confidence and vision.
Through the revitalisation of harakeke knowledge, enterprise development, and mātauranga Māori, rangatahi are supported to grow their own ideas, skills, and pathways.
In this way, Te Kāuru continues its legacy — grounded in whakapapa, guided by mātauranga, and reaching forward to the generations yet to come.
The Future
of Harakeke
Harakeke has long been woven into the cultural, environmental, and economic story of Aotearoa. From traditional practices to early industries, the plant has sustained communities and carried knowledge across generations.
Today, there is an opportunity to rediscover and reimagine the possibilities of harakeke in new and innovative ways.
Te Kāuru works to support this future by nurturing the next generation of rangatahi innovators. Through the Te Kāuru Harakeke Enterprise Lab, young people explore how traditional knowledge, sustainable fibre, and creative thinking can come together to inspire new ideas and enterprise pathways.
By strengthening cultural knowledge, building practical skills, and encouraging innovation, Te Kāuru contributes to a growing movement focused on the restoration and future potential of the harakeke industry in Aotearoa.
At the centre of this vision are rangatahi — carrying the knowledge of the past while shaping the possibilities of the future.
We honour the researchers, kaitiaki, historians, and knowledge platforms who have preserved the story of harakeke across generations. Their work allows us to learn, rebuild, and reimagine the future of this taonga.
The history of the flax industry in Aotearoa is deeply documented through archives such as Manawatū Heritage, while platforms like Te Ara – The Encyclopedia of New Zealand provide insight into the cultural and practical uses of harakeke.
Scientific and ecological knowledge continues to be preserved and shared through organisations such as the New Zealand Plant Conservation Network, ensuring that the integrity of harakeke as a living taonga is understood and respected.
We acknowledge and stand alongside all knowledge holders, weaving together mātauranga Māori and recorded research to support the regeneration of the harakeke industry.
We also acknowledge the specialised knowledge and research contributed by individuals and institutions working deeply within the harakeke space. The work of René Orchiston in documenting harakeke collection types and weaving knowledge provides important insight into the diversity and application of this taonga.
Scientific and environmental research led by organisations such as Manaaki Whenua – Landcare Research continues to expand our understanding of harakeke within ecosystems, land use, and sustainability.
Acknowledging Knowledge Holders
Contact us
Te Kāuru works with schools, youth organisations, community groups, and partners interested in supporting rangatahi enterprise development.
If you are interested in learning more about the Te Kāuru Harakeke Enterprise Lab, bringing the programme to your community, or exploring collaboration opportunities, we would love to hear from you.
Please complete the form and we will be in touch.