Northland weaver invited to collect flax after saying it is hard to find

Cassandra Moar is "amazed" at the number of invitations she has received to collect flax from people's gardens. PHOTO/MICHAEL CUNNINGHAM

Cassandra Moar says the most difficult part of weaving is actually finding the flax so when she received calls from several people inviting the Whangarei weaver to collect flax she was "amazed".

Ms Moar appeared in the Northern Advocate two weeks ago as part of a story on a study which proved the safety of wahakura - woven flax bassinets. Ms Moar is contracted by Northland District Health Board to make wahakura and said it was hard to find flax in Whangarei and she often travelled out of town to find it.

That's when the calls started to come in.

"The response has been massive. I'm still trying to get around to everyone, it's just amazing.

"I have had more than 10 calls from people saying they have flax I can collect," she said.

Ms Moar has been weaving since she was a child. Her first connection with flax was threading eels onto a long piece of flax when she went eeling in the Kaipara with her older brothers.

She has been making wahakura for about five years and weaves about 20 per day. But to make that many she needs about four or five big bags of green flax, or about 60 blades, for one wahakura.

"There's never enough flax," she said.

"I've managed to get to five locations on the outskirts of Whangarei including Parua Bay, Taiharuru and Maungatapere. I've collected at least eight bags."

Along with the offers to collect flax, Ms Moar has received requests to make wahakura.

"It's just incredible. It's taken off. The other day I got an invitation to dinner for weaving a wahakura for someone. People we don't normally meet, we're getting to meet. The exposure has been great," she said.

To get in touch with Ms Moar call 022 613 9159.