Term Three Blog 5

Interview with Ans Westra


Q: Where where you born?

A: I was born in Leiden, Netherlands 1936


Q: When did you move to New Zealand?

A: I moved to New Zealand in 1958


Q: When was your first introduction to photography?

A: When I was A teenager my stepfather owned a Leica camera, and took lots of photos with it.


Q: Where did you study photography?

A: I taught myself, experimenting and taking lots of photos on my own time.


Q: What first inspired you to pursue photography?

A: As a child I went to the Family of Man exhibition and that really made a huge impact on me.


Q: Did you join any groups while pursuing photography?

A: In 1958 I joined a camera club and worked in various local photographic studios.



Q: Why do you work mostly on the Maori community?

A: Because I'd developed my own style here. I found what I could do best. So I didn't really find my way again in Holland, probably because I'd started off here, been too far away from it.