Model, butcher's work bench

This model butcher's work bench represents the story of a Dutch immigrant who came to New Zealand in 1952. Albert Zwartjes brought the model from the Van Dijk's factory, where he had worked, in the hope that he would be able to sell the full-sized work benches to New Zealand butchers. After a sales call to a company called Berry in Wellington, a company who specialised in supplying hardware to butchers, he was told that New Zealand butchers would prefer to stick with 'primitive but cheaper Kauri'. His hopes and dreams were quashed and eventually Albert returned to the Netherlands in 1964.

The inscription on the back of the chopping block represents Albert's bitter disappointment: 'In case you feel lonely in this God forsaken country and want to chop your own head off, don't forget your friend supplied you a block designed for that purpose. Have a good chop, Blackie. p.s. Don't forget to do it in one blow, it may be painful if you don't. Sunday 30th November 1952, Room 6 Flat 211, Trentham Immigration Hostel.'

This object and the associated story significantly document the experiences of many European immigrants to New Zealand, particularly those who found the experience difficult, painful and disappointing.