Interview with Joris de Bres

Joris de Bres was born in the Netherlands in 1947. Explains his family migrated to Lower Hutt in 1954 so his father could be Presbyterian chaplain to the new migrant Dutch community. Describes his father's involvement with liberation theology, the Reformed Church and the Indonesian independence movement. Talks about religious practice at home. Recalls coming out on the ship `Waterman'. Describes monthly Dutch services at St Andrew's on the Terrace, his father's appointment to the Upper Hutt parish and their move to Auckland for his father to minister to new urban Maori. Comments that both his father's father and grandfather and his mother's father were ministers and his parents met at a church conference. Describes his father's involvement in the Dutch resistance movement in World War II.

Discusses his father's view that the family should integrate in New Zealand. Talks about his siblings John, Hanna, Margreet, Guido, Tjitske (Lyn), Tatini and Barta and how many of them changed their names. Discusses difficulties learning the English language. Recalls the family being naturalised and feelings towards it. Describes his schooling, his anti-authoritarian streak, studying languages at Auckland University, involvement in Student Christian Movement (SCM), editing the student newspaper `Craccum' and being active in the anti-Vietnam and anti-racist movements. Mentions a Marxist phase. Describes going to Oxford and student conferences in Prague, Paris and Versailles. Recalls working for CARE and Corso and supporting Pacific Island migrants over the dawn raids. Mentions conflict with Immigration Ministers Fraser Colman and Air Commodore Frank Gill. Talks about meeting his partner Angela Crisp, a nurse, in England. Describes being sacked twice by Corso. Refers to `sticking-plaster aid' and the tea trade with Ceylon (Sri Lanka). Recalls the assistance of Syd Jackson in his personal grievance case and becoming involved in unions.

Describes working as a PSA organiser for nine years, being secretary of the Combined Trade Unions and assistant general secretary of the PSA. Comments on being in the media as a result of involvement in industrial disputes and CARE. Recalls state sector restructuring from 1986, negotiations, redundancies, bargaining and its effects on his politics. Describes leaving the PSA in 1993 and becoming a senior public servant with the Department of Conservation (DOC). Describes sorting out issues over a Maori occupation on the Whanganui River. Comments on the Cave Creek tragedy.

Discusses his essay published in `Landfall' on the the Dutch migrant community, migration policies of the 1950s and New Zealand's move from a monocultural to multicultural society. Comments on his feelings about cultural assimilation, loss of his Dutch culture, feelings about being Dutch and desire for a greater recognition of the Dutch migration. Mentions the movement by Dutch towards reclaiming their culture and his intention to write to help reassert Dutch history.

Interviewer(s) - Hank Schouten

Quantity: 2 C60 cassette(s). 1 printed abstract(s). 1 interview(s). 1.30 Hours and minutes Duration.

Finding Aids: Abstract Available - abstracting complete OHA 2706.

Original recordings not available for playback. Surrogate copies will be provided.

Alternative form available: Listening copies OHLC-004421 - OHLC-004422