800 Years of MĀtauranga
- Two hundred years ago, when Māori chiefs in Aotearoa New Zealand learned that the native Harakeke plant did not occur in England, they asked in amazement, “But how is it possible to live without it?”
- We are beginning to understand…on first encountering Harakeke, European traders called it ‘flax’ because its fibres are similar to those extracted from linen flax – but Harakeke is botanically, a daylily unique to Aotearoa New Zealand. It is also unique in being extremely well suited to sustainable cultivation on under-utilised land where it can contribute to environmental repair.
Māori women weaving flax. Ref: 1/2-057029-F. Alexander Turnbull Library, Wellington, New Zealand. /records/23132835
Image courtesy of Templeton Flax Mill Heritage Museum
BIOTENAX IS BUILDING.
- Extending forty years of successful, international business entrepreneurship, Mark Henderson and Soraya Hendesi direct primary production, innovation and research in the Biotenax Bio-discovery Gardens.
- The company's principals have strong connections throughout Aotearoa New Zealand with Maori enterprise and land-owners, New Zealand farming communities, tertiary, crown research institutes, government bodies, media, communications, innovators and manufacturers.
Part of our whenua in 2006
Our whenua in 2024
OUR MISSION
Biotenax is helping to create economic opportunities across Aotearoa – while bringing to the world one of the most effective means to replace materials that have a detrimental environmental footprint.
Harakeke fibre and by-products, will transform Aerospace, Automotive and Marine, Apparel, Geo-textiles to Bio-plastics and Natural functional ingredients...for the next 800 years! These game-changing materials will strengthen business value propositions – better aligning with the global consumer desire to make a difference. Helping smart businesses to achieve category leadership with environmentally sound plant-based technology and products that can excel in comparative performance.
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OUR PLACE
Biotenax is a 22Ha biodiscovery resource near Wellsford, in Northland, Aotearoa New Zealand, with a dedicated R&D Centre focused on Harakeke fibre processing and by-product development.
With 15,000 Harakeke plants onsite, and a targeted plant nursery, Biotenax is equipped to research, test, build and trial new ways of developing a national Harakeke-based industry; to supply Harakeke start-ups with base stock; and to develop proprietary products such as yarn, twine and rope.
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