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Story: Daily life in Māori communities – te noho a te hapori

Making flax baskets

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Making flax baskets

This peaceful scene painted by Gottfried Lindauer shows women weaving kono (food baskets) and kete (storage baskets) from flax. This essential activity was carried out collectively and often, as in this case, in the morning or evening, since daytime hours were devoted to food production.

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Auckland Art Gallery – Toi o Tāmaki

Reference: 1915/2/63

by Gottfried Lindauer

Permission of Auckland Art Gallery Toi o Tāmaki must be obtained before any re-use of this image.

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How to cite this page

Mark Derby, Daily life in Māori communities – te noho a te hapori – Daily life in traditional communities, Te Ara – the Encyclopedia of New Zealand, https://teara.govt.nz/en/artwork/40895/making-flax-baskets (accessed 6 June 2026).

Story by Mark Derby, published 19 February 2013.