Life after Pahiatua - presentation on Pahiatua Polish Children
15.11.2019
Please take a look at the latest Polish Embassy's presentation highlighting personal stories and profiles of several members of the Polish Children of Pahiatua - a group of 733 Polish children, mostly orphans and half-orphans, who arrived in Wellington on 1 November 1944 upon the invitation by the New Zealand Government. On the 75th anniversary of their arrival, we present some of their contributions to their new homeland.
1 November 1944 will remain an important date and milestone in the history of friendly relations between Poland and New Zealand. New Zealand's war cabinet, as one of few governments of the time, responded positively to the appeal of the Polish Government-in-Exile in London to provide a temporary shelter for Polish civilians and children who had faced death in the Soviet forced-labour camps before their escape to Iran. Polish children were not only spared further war suffering, but were also able to find a new home.
Presentation highlights growing up and successfully integrating of Polish Children into New Zealand way of life, while maintaining their Polish culture and passing it down through the generations. Their integration is a success story. Polish Children, invited 75 years ago, made New Zealand their home and positively contributed to the country's development.
See PRESENTATION
Materials
Life After PahiatuaLife_After_Pahiatua.pdf 1.63MB