Harakeke
Takapuna, Auckland
Scope: Concept / Floral Design / Installation
For this seaside wedding, we wanted the landscape of Aotearoa to become part of the floral language. With the couple's Māori heritage in mind, we began exploring harakeke — a native New Zealand plant with a long connection to Māori weaving traditions.
Harakeke is traditionally used in raranga, woven into objects such as kete and whāriki. But working with it at the scale of a floral installation presented a very different challenge. The leaves are incredibly strong and resistant to shaping. Each one had to be individually softened and worked by hand before it could take the form we wanted.
Sunflowers became the final counterpoint. Their circular heads echoed the woven forms of the harakeke, bringing something familiar and playful into an otherwise unexpected material combination.
Against the sea and open landscape, the result felt distinctly of this place — native material, traditional craft and contemporary floral design brought into one composition.
