Gallery – Polish refugees in New Zealand

A view of the camp with the girl's dormitories in front.

The youngest children test drive the seesaw built by the New Zealand soldiers at the Pahiatua Camp.

A three bedroomed house to be used by all sub-groups of the Association, was bought in 1951. Many Poles sacrificed a whole week's wages to help pay for it. It was converted into a social hall and library. It was here that the Polish Saturday School for children was established.

Auckland Star 6 February 1945. FIrst Polish girls start school at Sacred Heart College in Auckland. Source: Papers Past, digital collection of The National Library of New Zealand. Copyright: Fairfax New Zealand Ltd. View at: http://paperspast.natlib.govt.nz/cgi-bin/paperspast?a=d&cl=search&d=AS19450206.2.24&srpos=59&e=01-01-1943-----10--51----2

Evening Post, Volume CXXXIX, Issue 98, 27 April 1945, Page 9. News about a visit of a group of Polish Children to Wellington. Source: Papers Past, digital collection of The National Library of New Zealand. Copyright: Fairfax New Zealand Ltd. View at: http://paperspast.natlib.govt.nz/cgi-bin/paperspast?a=d&cl=search&d=EP19450427.2.107&srpos=1&e=27-04-1945-28-04-1945--10--1----0

Evening Post, Volume CXXXIX, Issue 99, 28 April 1945, Page 6. News about Polish children visit to Wellington and concert performed by the children. Source: Papers Past, digital collection of The National Library of New Zealand. Copyright Fairfax New Zealand Ltd. View at:http://paperspast.natlib.govt.nz/cgi-bin/paperspast?a=d&cl=search&d=EP19450428.2.20&srpos=1&e=28-04-1945-28-04-1945--10--1

Evening Post, Volume CXL, Issue 151, 24 December 1945, Page 3. Report aboput children's second Christmas at the camp. Source: Papers Past, digital collection of The National Library of New Zealand. Copyright : Fairfax New Zealand Ltd. View at: http://paperspast.natlib.govt.nz/cgi-bin/paperspast?a=d&cl=search&d=EP19451224.2.13.2&srpos=22&e=01-01-1943-----10--21----2

Evening Post, Volume CXXXVIII, Issue 145, 16 December 1944, Page 8. Fundraising for the Polish Children. Source: Papers Past, digital collection of The National Library of New Zealand. Copyright: Fairfax New Zealand Ltd. View at: http://paperspast.natlib.govt.nz/cgi-bin/paperspast?a=d&cl=search&d=EP19441216.2.62&srpos=1&e=16-12-1944-16-12-1944--10--1----0

Evening Post, Volume CXXXVIII, Issue 100, 25 October 1944, Page 6. News regarding the set up of a hospitality committee for the Polish children. Source: Papers Past, digital collection of The National Library of New Zealand. Copyright: Fairfax New Zealand Ltd. View at: http://paperspast.natlib.govt.nz/cgi-bin/paperspast?a=d&cl=search&d=EP19441025.2.80&srpos=1&e=25-10-1944-25-10-1944--10--1----0

Evening Post, Volume CXXXVIII, Issue 145, 16 December 1944, Page 8. Fundraising for the Polish Children. Source: Papers Past, digital collection of The National Library of New Zealand. Copyright: Fairfax New Zealand Ltd. View at: http://paperspast.natlib.govt.nz/cgi-bin/paperspast?a=d&cl=search&d=EP19441216.2.62&srpos=1&e=16-12-1944-16-12-1944--10--1----0

Evening Post, Volume CXXXIX, Issue 102, 2 May 1945, Page 6. Description of the presentation by the Polish Children on their visit to Wellington in May 1945. Source: Papers Past, digital collection of The National Library of New Zealand. Copyright: Fairfax New Zealand Ltd. View at: http://paperspast.natlib.govt.nz/cgi-bin/paperspast?a=d&cl=search&d=EP19450502.2.56&srpos=36&e=16-12-1943-31-12-1945--10--31

Evening Post , Issue 132, 6 June 1944, Page 6. Appreciation of NZ action expressed by Dr. K. A. Wodzicki Consul-General of Poland in New Zealand. From Papers Past, digital collection of the National Library of New Zealand. Copyright Faifax Media. View at: http://paperspast.natlib.govt.nz/cgi-bin/paperspast?a=d&cl=search&d=EP19440606.2.90&srpos=10&e=01-01-1943-31-12-1944--10--1----0

Evening Post, Volume CXXXVII, Issue 128, 1 June 1944, Page 6. Announcement of offer of New Zealand government to temporarily provide a home at Pahiatua for about 700 Polish children from Iran. From Papers Past, a digital collection of The National Library of New Zealand. Copyright Fairfax Media. View at: http://paperspast.natlib.govt.nz/cgi-bin/paperspast?a=d&cl=search&d=EP19440601.2.50&srpos=2&e=01-06-1944-01-06-1944--10--1----0

Evening Post, Volume CXXXIX, Issue 32, 7 February 1945, Page 6 Article about the first children to leave Pahiatua camp to start the school year in catholic schools in New Zealand. From Papers Past, a digital collection of The National Library of New Zealand. Copyright Fairfax Media. View at: http://paperspast.natlib.govt.nz/cgi-bin/paperspast?a=d&cl=search&d=EP19450207.2.77&srpos=1&e=07-02-1945-07-02-1945--10--1----0

Evening Post, Volume CXL, Issue 114, 10 November 1945, Page 12 Article about the fiorst anniversary of the Polish CHildren at the Pahiatua Polish Children's Camp. From Papers Past, a digital collection of The National Library of New Zealand. Copyright Fairfax Media. View at: http://paperspast.natlib.govt.nz/cgi-bin/paperspast?a=d&cl=search&d=EP19451110.2.130.2&srpos=1&e=10-11-1945-10-11-1945--10--1----0

Evening Post, Volume CXXXIX, Issue 42, 19 February 1945 , Page 6. Article about the visit of the Prime Minister, Honourable Peter Fraser to Pahiatua Polish Children's Camp. From Papers Past, a digital collection of The National Library of New Zealand. Copyright Fairfax Media. View at: http://paperspast.natlib.govt.nz/cgi-bin/paperspast?a=d&cl=search&d=EP19450219.2.66&srpos=2&e=19-02-1945-19-02-1945--10--1----0

Auckland Star, Volume LXXV, Issue 259, 1 November 1944, Page 2 Article about the arrival of the Polish Children at Pahiatua Camp. From Papers Past, a digital collection of the National Library of New Zealand. Copyright Fairfax Media. View at: http://paperspast.natlib.govt.nz/cgi-bin/paperspast?a=d&cl=search&d=AS19441101.2.10&srpos=19&e=01-01-1943-31-12-1944--10--11----0

Evening Post, Volume CXXXVIII, Issue 106, 1 November 1944, Page 6. Article regarding Red Cross involvement with the Polish Children arrival and settlement in Pahiatua Children's Camp. From Papers Past digital collection from the National Library of New Zealand. Copyright Fairfax Media. View at http://paperspast.natlib.govt.nz/cgi-bin/paperspast?a=d&cl=search&d=EP19441101.2.64&srpos=6&e=01-01-1943-31-12-1944--10--1----0

Inside the camp's shoe-repair shop. (l-r): Danuta Czerny-Hołownia, Wojciech Michalik, Sergeant Major Bourne-Webb

Map of Pahiatua, New Zealand

NZ Prime Minister Peter Fraser and Countess Wodzicka visit Pahiatua Camp. From Polish Children's Reunion Committee 2004 collection.

Johnny Lindstrom - Army personnel at Pahiatua Camp. From Polish Children's Reunion Committee 2004 collection.

Father Michał Wilniewczyc, Priest at Pahiatua Camp. From Polish Children's Reunion Committee 2004 collection.

Army Trucks arrive carrying Polish children from station to Pahiatua Camp - photo from the Polish Children's Reunion Committee 2004 collection.

From Polish Children's Reunion Committee 2004 collection.

Father Michał Wilniewczyc, before his departure for Lebanon, with the Ursuline nuns at the Polish Boys' Hostel. The Sisters were eventually recalled to Poland after working voluntarily and tirelessly to ensure the wellbeing of their charges.

Standing (l-r): Józef Pieczara, Stefan Waniuk, Tadeusz Budny, Henryk Kapera, Tadeusz Reder Front (l-r): Teodor Piesocki, Zbigniew Popławski, Tadeusz Mazur

The Pahiatua locals welcome the Polish children as the trucks pass through town from the railway station to the Polish Children's Camp, 1 November 1944

The Polish Boys' Hostel in Clyde Street, Island Bay, Wellington. It was opened on 6 May 1946 to house the first boys who left the Polish Children's Camp in Pahiatua to work or study in Wellington, and eventually integrate into New Zealand society.

A proud Alexander Henderson (English teacher at Pahiatua Camp) was honoured on 20 July 1995 by Polish President Lech Wałęsa with the Officers' Cross of the Order of Merit of the Republic of Poland. This is the highest Polish award that can be bestowed on a citizen of another country. He was also admired for making the effort to learn the language of his pupils at the camp.