Interview with Carla van Zon

Carla van Zon was born in Auckland in 1952. Gives details of her family and her parent's emigration from the Netherlands. Mentions they went to Indonesia. Describes her father's interest in farming and becoming a farm hand. Notes her mother taught contemporary dance. Recalls her parents speaking Dutch, their Dutch friends, the food they ate, St Nicholas, early hardships, her parent's commitment to being New Zealanders and the tension between the two cultures. Gives her impressions on visiting the Netherlands. Talks about travelling round Europe in a campervan. Recalls returning to New Zealand to teach, disliking teaching and travelling in Asia before studying at George Washington University in Washington D.C. Talks about returning to New Zealand. Comments on an experience on a marae and her pride in being Dutch. Describes doing contract work for arts organisations, working for the International Festival of the Arts and becoming director. Mentions her work ethic and financial expertise.

Describes visits of Dutch relations to New Zealand. Mentions camping holidays. Comments on learning the Dutch language. Discusses her schooling and interest in maths, dance and sports. Explains her choice of contemporary dance at the Physical Education School at Otago University and other subjects studied towards an MA. Discusses her family, religious background, being an achiever and her definition of herself as a Dutch New Zealander.

Interviewer(s) - Elizabeth Smaal

Quantity: 2 C60 cassette(s). 1 printed abstract(s). 1 interview(s). 1.50 Hours and minutes Duration.

Finding Aids: Abstract Available - abstracting complete OHA-2708.

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

Alternative form available: Listening copies OHLC-004429 - OHLC-004430