Photographer Ans Westra’s digital drive

An Ans Westra exhibit at Suite Gallery marks the end of a 3-year project by the National Library to digitise and preserve her life's work.

Ans is the photographer behind many famous images of life in NZ including the legendary Washday at the Pa series in 1963.

There are 150,000 images in total documenting life in NZ ever since Ans arrived 60 years ago now.

The driving force behind both the exhibition and digitization project is her friend and agent David Alsop. Charlotte Wilson talked to him and Ans' half-sister Yvonne.

Te Rere a Kapuni-Easter 1965.

Watching Miss NZ Contestants CubaMall Wellington 1971.

National Park Self Portrait 1963.

Coronation Celebrations Turangawaewae Marae Ngaruawahia 1963.

Outside Royal Oak Tavern Wellington 1960.

Rotorua circa 1963.

Ruatoria 1963 (from Washday at the Pa) kete swing.

Rotorua Fairground 1963.

Ruatoria 1963. Washing on fence.

The images in this gallery are used with permission and are subject to copyright conditions.