WEEKLY REVIEW 280

PATTERNS IN FLAX Black & White 11 mins. 35mm 1,015 ft. 1947

The six-foot leaves of New Zealand’s native flax plant were invaluable to the Māori people, who plaited mats and baskets from strips of the almost unbreakable leaves, and made cloth and rope from the tough fibres. Now modern factories use some of the beautiful old Māori designs to make modern floor coverings. Often the modern weaving machines are operated by descendants of the Māoris who used these fibres to make the fine material for their garments. (Archives NZ)