Introducing the Pā Harakeke collection, Winner of the ‘To The Floor’ competition.
The Pā Harakeke Collection – Our Woven World is inspired by the journey of artist Arnya Karaitiana in celebrating identity while achieving balance and overall well-being.
Pā Harakeke presents a sense of lineage and connection, symbolic of our connections to one another and our environment. Lines inform strong bonds; a firm hold from one thing to another while creating pathways where knowledge and information can transcend and be shared. The collection explores the natural form, anatomy and physical expression of the Harakeke plant unique to Aotearoa, New Zealand – a metaphorical understanding of family from a Te Ao Māori perspective.
“Pā Harakeke brings to life the lines we live by and the lines that connect us. A woven universe intermittently communicating to each other consciously and unconsciously.”?
Arnya Karaitiana was born in Hastings, Aotearoa, New Zealand and is of Māori decent – Rangitāne, Ngāti Ranginui, Te Arawa. She shares her unique indigenous perspective from her Te Ao Māori view of the world, through an expression of connection, exploring the relationships between people and place.
Arnya has over 15 years of experience in the arts, design, and advertising sectors. She is passionate about purposeful design, craftsmanship, and storytelling aimed at creating resonant experiences that foster positive change. Her work emphasises the strength and resilience of a strong family foundation and acknowledges the influence of past, present, and future generations on her journey.
“Knowing your identity is knowing your whānau (family), your whakapapa (heritage) while maintaining the connections between body, mind, and spirit.”
?A visual representation of Whānau/ Whakapapa that defines ‘Well-being’ and celebrates identity.
An inspired approach looks at Māori health advocate Sir Mason Durie’s Well-being model – Te Whare Tapa Whā. This model describes health like a Wharenui, a marae or meeting house, a place central to a community, well-known to Māori and unique to Aotearoa. The walls of the wharenui represent ‘Taha Wairua[CP1]?’ – spiritual well-being, ‘Taha Hinengaro’ – mental and emotional well-being, ‘Taha Tinana’ – physical well-being and ‘Taha Whānau’ – family and social well-being. Our connection with the whenua (land) forms the foundation.?
“When the layers of our existence – our Whakapapa – are balanced, we are well.
When those who stand beside us – our Whānau – are present, we are well.
When the lines from generation to generation are open and connected, we are well.
When we’re comfortable with who we are and where we stand in the world, we are well.
Understanding all of this is grounding... being grounded is achieving balance... and balance is well-being.”
Arnya Karaitiana
Rangitāne, Ngāti Ranginui, Te Arawa
Creative Director & Kaiārahi Māori
The Harakeke Plant.
In its natural state, the Harakeke is an herbaceous plant, characterised by its soft, non-woody form. Its strong, sword-like leaves are arranged side by side in two adjacent sets, enveloping the central growing point, or ‘Rito’. These leaves appear intermittently woven in a fan-like pattern.?
In Te Ao Māori (The Māori World), the Pā Harakeke (flax family) serves as a metaphor for whānau (family). This generational model, with its multiple layers of support, symbolises interconnectedness. At the heart of the Pā (bush) is the ‘Rito’, the central shoot, representing a child. The two flax blades directly beside the ‘Rito’ are the parents, known as ‘āwhi Rito’. The outer shoots are the ‘Tīpuna’ or grandparents, who provide strength and protection for the younger, more delicate flax leaves.
Deep within the long flax strands of the Pā Harakeke are even smaller muka fibres. These fibres intertwine the already slender strands, collectively holding the lifelines together as one unit.
An intricate display of designs.
Pa Harakeke features seven designs that merge to form a unified visual story or stand independently as unique elements, providing an impactful presence on the floor and within any indoor environment. Each design honours the cultural importance of the Harakeke plant while incorporating contemporary aesthetics, making them ideal for modern spaces. These intricate designs range from the prominent Harakeke – The Flax to the subtle and delicate textures of Te Kākano – The Seed and Pakiaka – The Root. It represents various stages of evolution, featuring linear and directional patterns with diverse textures in designs such as Muka – The Fibre, Te Rau – The Leaf, Tuia – To Stitch, and Raranga – To Weave. Together, these elements depict the plant's development and create a visually captivating effect.
Patterns from left to right:
Harakeke, ‘Flax’
The Harakeke plant symbolises family in Māori culture and embodies natural beauty. Its silhouette is known to many who live in Aotearoa. This motif showcases the plant's elegance, representing generational support through its flowing lines. As the central design of the collection, Harakeke is richly textured, allowing it to be a showcase element in a space and can be seamlessly complemented by the collection's more subtle patterns.
Te Kākano, ‘The Seed’
Inspired by the fine lines and texture of Harakeke seeds, often scattered by the Tūī bird, this pattern inspires tranquility across a floorplate. ‘Te Kākano is intricate in its details and texture, offering a harmonious and serene option from this collection. It lends itself to broad floorplate expanses, providing a perfect foundation.
Pakiaka, ‘The Root’
The Pakiaka pattern visualises the artist’s reinterpretation of the land and growth, symbolising the process of seeds embedding in the earth. Embodying the essence of life’s continuity and the generational legacy symbolised by the Harakeke plant, Pakiaka brings a grounded and vibrant energy, ideally suited for spaces that thrive on movement and connection.?
Muka, ‘The Fibre’
Inspired by the string-like fibres within Harakeke leaves, the Muka design features many horizontal lines that symbolise continuity. Muka reinforces connection, a striking visualisation of the artist’s interpretation of the Harakeke leaf, a dynamic and eye-catching addition to any floorscape.
Te Rau, ‘The Leaf’
?The Te Rau pattern highlights the longitudinal textures of Harakeke leaves, using bold and delicate lines to create a fan-like arrangement, illustrating the artist's generational ties and family connections. Daring in its design, ‘Te Rau’ is an ideal choice as a statement collection in any space, beautifully complemented by the subtle designs of the Pā Harakeke collection.
Tuia, ‘To Stitch’
The Tuia pattern brings elegance to the ground-floor plane, with intricately designed lines creating a cohesive network of connections. With a gentle dimension reminiscent of a hand-stitched pattern, Tuia stands out as a fitting addition to long spaces, influencing a sense of movement in its parallel and horizontal linework.
Raranga, ‘To Weave’
‘Raranga’ is emphatic of intricate weaving, culturally close to the artist’s heritage. Playing with light and shadow, each colourway of ‘Raranga’ visualises careful craftsmanship, combining traditional and modern elements. This design creates tapestries on the floorplate, transforming spaces through a tactile experience. It is a finale to the Pā Harakeke that, in its own way, is a nod to all the designs of the collection.
To The Floor Competition
The Pa Harakeke collection was created in collaboration with Arnya Karaitiana and Milliken through the Designers Institute of New Zealand 's (DINZ) ‘To The Floor’ Competition, where Arnya emerged as the 2023 winner. This competition serves as a platform for Milliken to support New Zealand's design community.?
The 2023 theme, "Well-being," focused on designs that promoted a harmonious blend of factors enhancing people's physical, psychological, social, and ecological lives. This theme allowed designers to create works inspired by their personal interpretations of well-being.
Thank you to the 2023 Judges panel, Amy Tasker, Asha Page, Jef Wong, Erini Compton, and Kelvin Soh.
Connecting People + Strategy to Relationships + Business Success. Founder - Brand and Communications Consultancy RPC Executive Committee Leader Tree of Knowledge (TOK) - Australia and NZ.
1 天前Congratulations Milliken Floors ANZ on another inspiring collaboration. A truly unique and stunning collection,