Switzerland - Social life and customs

Date: 05 02 01 - 05 Feb 2001

From: Swiss migration and settlement in New Zealand 1935-1955 oral history project

By: Messmer, Ruth, 1921-

Reference: OHInt-0597/6

Description: Ruth Messmer was born in Seebach, Zurich in 1921. Describes completing an apprenticeship and working in offices before emigrating to New Zealand in 1950, with her husband Hans Messmer. Talks about the journey to New Zealand by ship, first impressions of Wellington, first accommodation, finding work, settling in socially, their first New Zealand holiday, the decision to stay in New Zealand. Talks about visits from her mother, starting their hairdressing business, trips back to Switzerland, setting up hairdressing apprenticeships in New Zealand. Talks about the Swiss Club, learning the English language, things she misses about the Swiss culture, and the reasons some Swiss migrants returned to Switzerland. Interviewer(s) - Joan Waldvogel Arrangement: Tape numbers - OHC-9525 - 9526 Quantity: 2 C60 cassette(s). 1 transcript(s). 1 interview(s). 2 Hours Duration. Finding Aids: Abstract Available - transcript(s) available OHA-3235, 'Typescript' - slightly edited. Search dates: 1935 - 1955

Date: 23 12 2000 - 23 Dec 2000

From: Swiss migration and settlement in New Zealand 1935-1955 oral history project

By: Remphler, Frank Joseph, 1914?-

Reference: OHInt-0597/3

Description: Frank Remphler was born in Enggenhutten, a small village in Canton Appenzell about 1914. Describes childhood on the farm, work after school, becoming a cheese-maker, emigrating to New Zealand, work as a cheese-maker in Featherston, and the comparison to similar work in Switzerland, then work on a pig farm and becoming a farmer in Belmont, Lower Hutt. Talks about his first impressions of New Zealand, learning English, a return trip to Switzerland, strong Swiss links in New Zealand, working with New Zealanders. Talks about New Zealand food, language, and the difficult things about living in New Zealand. Interviewer(s) - Joan Waldvogel Arrangement: Tape numbers - OHC-009518 - 9519 Quantity: 2 C60 cassette(s). 1 transcript(s). 1 interview(s). 2 Hours Duration. Finding Aids: Abstract Available - transcript(s) available OHA-3232, 'Typescript' - slightly edited. Search dates: 1935 - 1955

Date: 03 01 2001 - 03 Jan 2001

From: Swiss migration and settlement in New Zealand 1935-1955 oral history project

By: Napp, Lotti, 1933-

Reference: OHInt-0597/5

Description: Lotti Napp was born in Zurich in 1933. Mentions joining Foreign Affairs in Switzerland with a desire for travel and receiving a posting to Wellington at the age of 22 years. Describes first impressions of Wellington, accommodation, learning the English language, becoming integrated in the New Zealand culture, return visits to Switzerland, continuing links with Switzerland, comparisons between the cultures, maintaining Swiss language and heritage, Swiss returnees, thoughts on being a 'foreigner', New Zealand work attitudes, and working in Wellington as a librarian. Interviewer(s) - Joan Waldvogel Arrangement: Tape numbers - OHC-009523 - 9524 Quantity: 2 C60 cassette(s). 1 transcript(s). 1 interview(s). 2 Hours Duration. Finding Aids: Abstract Available - transcript(s) available OHA-3234, 'Typescript' - slightly edited. Search dates: 1935 - 1955

Date: 14 04 2001 - 14 Apr 2001

From: Swiss migration and settlement in New Zealand 1935-1955 oral history project

By: Fuglistaller, Edwin, 1928-

Reference: OHInt-0597/7

Description: Edwin Fuglistaller was born near Zurich in 1928. Talks about parents, the war years, becoming a fitter and turner and working in a locomotive factory before emigrating to New Zealand in 1950. Mentions reasons he left Switzerland. Describes in detail (in the style of a journal) the trip to New Zealand by ship aboard the 'Surriento'. Talks about port visits including Naples, Messina, Genoa, Aden and Columbo. Describes encounters in the port towns and first class food, entertainment and day to day events aboard the ship. Describes in a journal style the first few days in New Zealand and getting farm hand work in New Plymouth, giving an account of his job on a dairy farm. Talks about his first impressions of the country, mentions marriage and saving money so they could buy farm land near Hawera. Talks about farm developments, sharemilking with others, contracting. Describes the different work ethic between Kiwis and the Swiss. Talks about contact with Switzerland (especially family), contact with Swiss in New Zealand, the Taranaki Swiss Club, the English language, the impact of their Swiss heritage on their children, and factors about Switzerland that are missed. Interviewer(s) - Joan Waldvogel Arrangement: Tape numbers - OHC-009527 - 9528 Quantity: 2 C60 cassette(s). 1 transcript(s). 1 interview(s). 2 Hours Duration. Finding Aids: Abstract Available - transcript(s) available OHA-3236, 'Typescript' - slightly edited. Search dates: 1935 - 1955

Date: 13 04 2001 - 13 Apr 2001

From: Swiss migration and settlement in New Zealand 1935-1955 oral history project

By: Gut, Werner, 1930-; Gut, Theresa, 1931-

Reference: OHInt-0597/8

Description: This interview is primarily with Werner Gut and includes comments from his second wife, Theresa Gut. Werner Gut was born in Zurich in 1930. Mentions origins, the war years in Switzerland including food rationing, attending agricultural college. Talks about reasons for leaving Switzerland, family reaction, experiences on the boat travelling to New Zealand, arriving in the country with ten dollars. Describes his arrival and first impressions, arriving by train in Hawera, mentions his first working experience on a dairy farm, sharemilking and living in Taranaki. Mentions favoured cattle breeds and importing European cattle stock. Talks about being accepted by New Zealanders, marriage to a non-Swiss, learning the English language, maintaining the Swiss heritage, citizenship, trips back to Swizterland, aspects of the Swiss language, maintaining the Swiss identity, reasons for preferring New Zealand and friends who have returned to Switzerland. Teresa Gut was born in 1931 in the small village of Walchwil, Canton Zug. Talks about her first marriage to New Zealander Paul Hermann, travelling with him to New Zealand by boat, and settling in Taranaki. Adds comments to other topics discussed. Interviewer(s) - Joan Waldvogel Arrangement: Tape numbers - OHC-009529 - 9530 Quantity: 2 C60 cassette(s). 1 transcript(s). 1 interview(s). 2 Hours Duration. Finding Aids: Abstract Available - transcript(s) available OHA-3237, 'Typescript' - slightly edited. Search dates: 1935 - 1955

Date: 06 12 2000 - 06 Dec 2000

From: Swiss migration and settlement in New Zealand 1935-1955 oral history project

By: Sutherland, Lina, 1928-

Reference: OHInt-0597/2

Description: Lina Sutherland was born in Grindelwald. Canton Bern, Switzerland. Describes parents, their farm, food, schooldays, and their simple lifestyle. Talks about moving to French-speaking Switzerland to learn French after finishing school, working on a farm, the effects of World War II such as food rationing and housing interned people. Talks about work experience in England, emigrating to New Zealand, becoming a New Zealander, impressions of food and dining out, links with Switzerland. Talks about working in a law office for 16 years, mentions return trips to Switzerland, things about Switzerland that she especially misses, Swiss contacts, the Swiss language, comments on Swiss immigrants who returned to Switzerland. Mentions comparisons on the cost of living between Switzerland and New Zealand, reflects on New Zealand trade practices, and social and cultural differences in attitudes between the nationalities. Interviewer(s) - Joan Waldvogel Arrangement: Tape numbers - OHC-009516 - 9517 Quantity: 2 C60 cassette(s). 2 Hours Duration. Finding Aids: Abstract Available - transcript(s) available OHA-3231, 'Typescript' - slightly edited. Search dates: 1935 - 1955

Date: 04 11 2000 - 04 Nov 2000

From: Swiss migration and settlement in New Zealand 1935-1955 oral history project

By: Fuhrer, Max, 1928-; Waldvogel, Joan, active 2002

Reference: OHInt-0597/1

Description: Max Fuhrer was born in Rorschach, Canton St Gallen, Switzerland in 1928. Describes his parents, their cheese-making business, schooldays, and their simple lifestyle. Talks about becoming a cheese-maker, reasons for emigrating to New Zealand, why he chose New Zealand, arranging the trip, reactions of family, and travel by ship. Talks about fellow passengers, a stop-over in Sydney, and arriving in Auckland in 1949. Describes starting work in the Wairarapa in a cheese-making factory, talks about impressions of New Zealand. Describes the process of becoming integrated in New Zealand, studying a dairy diploma at Massey University, working on the wharves and the freezing works, travel to the United States and a year in Switzerland in 1954 where he met his wife, Rosina. (At this point of the interview Rosina contributes some comments). Describes the trip out to New Zealand together, living in Carterton and having children. Talks about introducing gruyere cheese to the New Zealand Rennett Company in Eltham, and then working for Tip Top in Johnsonville, and his experience of working in dairy factories. Mentions having a milk run, and then buying a poultry farm. Mentions trips back to Switzerland. Talks about what he had to leave behind when emigrating, such as family. Describes a sense of always being a foreigner. Mentions the Swiss identity of his children, citizenship, links with Switzerland and the Swiss language. Interviewer(s) - Joan Waldvogel Arrangement: Tape numbers - OHC-009513-9515 Quantity: 3 C60 cassette(s). 1 interview(s). 3 Hours Duration. Finding Aids: Abstract Available - transcript(s) available OHA-3230, 'Typescript' - slightly edited. Search dates: 1935 - 1955

Date: 11 01 2001 - 11 Jan 2001

From: Swiss migration and settlement in New Zealand 1935-1955 oral history project

By: Schleicher, Andre, 1928-

Reference: OHInt-0597/4

Description: Andre Schleicher was born in Zurich in 1928. Talks about family origins, being a foster child, teenage years, becoming a tradesman, military service, working in Stockholm in 1951. Talks about issues involved in migrating to New Zealand, finding out about New Zealand, leaving Switzerland, travelling by ship, arriving in Wellington, finding accommodation and work. Talks about working for the Government Printing Office and early experiences with the unions, work for Whitcombe and Toombs, marriage to a New Zealander, learning the English language, career advancement issues, working for the University Press, opening a tearoom in the Karori Mall, and then work as a computer despatch clerk. Describes links with Switzerland, aspects of Switzerland he misses, and makes comparisons between the quality of life in the two different countries. Talks about his involvement in the Wellington Swiss Club, Swiss traditions, the influence of his Swiss heritage on his children. Talks about attitudes to learning a second language, and cultural differences (such as the Kiwi 'she'll be right' attitude). Interviewer(s) - Joan Waldvogel Arrangement: Tape numbers - OHC-009520 - 9522 Quantity: 3 C60 cassette(s). 1 transcript(s). 1 interview(s). 3 Hours Duration. Finding Aids: Abstract Available - transcript(s) available OHA-3233, 'Typescript' - slightly edited. Search dates: 1935 - 1955