Poland in New Zealand

In Wellington, the Ambassador of the Republic of Poland Grzegorz Kowal took part in the national ANZAC Day celebrations at the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier in Pukeahu Park, as well as at Dom Polski, where the Polish commemorations of Katyn Massacre anniversary were held.

Holy Mass on the occasion of ANZAC Day was celebrated at St Mary of the Angels parish and was concelebrated by Cardinal John Dew, Archbishop of Wellington, and Apostolic Nuncio to New Zealand, Archbishop of Novatus Rugambwa. The flagship posts of the Association of Polish Ex-Servicemen (SPK) in New Zealand were present at the mass. After the ambassadorial speech, Ambassador Grzegorz Kowal and the President of the SPK Marian Ceregra laid wreaths at the Katyn Plaque. The mass was attended by members of the local Polish community and Polish children dressed in Polish folk costumes.

During the national ANZAC Day celebrations organised at Pukeahu, the Ambassador of the Republic of Poland laid a wreath at the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier. The ceremonies were attended, among others, by New Zealand Governor-General The Right Hon Dame Cindy Kiro with her spouse, representatives of the central government, local government, New Zealand Army, veterans and Wellington residents.

In the afternoon, a special Soldiers' Dinner was held at the Polish House in Wellington. During a ceremonial meeting, organised by SPK and the Polish Association in New Zealand (Wellington) as well as Orzeł and Orlęta groups, the Ambassador of the Republic of Poland presented the decorations of Honor Meritorious for Polish Culture of the Ministry of Culture and National Heritage of the Republic of Poland to Wanda Borowicz, Marian Ceregra, Teresa Thornton, Elżbieta Rombel and Józef Zawada. In his speech, Ambassador G. Kowal also referred to the anniversaries of the Katyn Massacre and the formation of the Home Army. The event was accompanied by a lottery for Ukraine.