Ans Westra reflection

We pay tribute to Ans Westra - a pioneer of documentary photography in New Zealand. Anna Westra CNZM was born in 1936 in the Netherlands and immigrated to New Zealand in 1957 at the age of 21. Well known for her depictions of Maori life in the 20th century, her prominence as an artist was amplified by her controversial 1964 children's book Washday at the Pa. Ans died yesterday at her home in Wellington aged 86 years old - survived by her three children and six grandchildren. With us now to pay tribute to her life and work - is her agent David Alsop of Suite Gallery