Poland in New Zealand

On 15 July 2020, the Polish Association in Christchurch organised a special screening of "Katyń" by Andrzej Wajda, commemorating the 80th anniversary of the Katyń massacre which falls this year. The event at the Lumière Cinemas was attended by the Polish Ambassador Mr Zbigniew Gniatkowski, the Polish Honorary Consul Mrs Winsome Dormer, New Zealanders and members of the Polish Community.

In 1940, at Stalin’s orders, 22,000 Polish prisoners of war - military officers and intelligentsia - were shot to death at Katyń and other sites, in violation of war-time conventions. The Katyń Massacre was classified as a war crime, a crime against humanity and genocide. “The memory about Katyń Crime laid foundations for the Independent Poland, reborn after the collapse of Communism.”, said the Polish Ambassador.

On 16 July 2020, Margaret Copland of Christchurch, descendant of Canterbury's First Polish Settlers of 1870s Michał & Katarzyna Gierszewski, received a badge of honor for Merits to the Polish Culture.

Historian and professional heritage story-teller, Margaret has been for years presenting stories that focus on local history, ordinary folk, with meticulously researched presence of woman's view of history. She has been involved in various projects, lectures and presentations focused on Early Settlers in New Zealand.

Ambassador Gniatkowski presented Margaret Copland with the badge of honor for Merits to the Polish Culture in a special ceremony at Christchurch Turanga Library, hosted by Between the Waters Polish Legacy in NZ Trust in cooperation with the Polish Embassy, in the presence of Christchurch Deputy Mayor Andrew Turner, Honorary Consul of Poland Winsome Dormer, leaders of Polish Community, members of various heritage and community organisations, Cantabrians, family and friends. Among attendees were also descendants of other Polish Early settlers to Canterbury: Kotłowski and Szymański families.

In 2022 we will celebrate 150 years of Early Polish Settlements to New Zealand.

While in Christchurch Ambassador Gniatkowski, whose mission in New Zealand is coming to an end, was presented by the Polish Community in Christchurch – Mrs Anna Gruczyńska and Mr Jacek Pawłowski – with an original Maori weaving created by Charlotte Orzecki of Hutia Te Rito, representing the interwoven ancestry of Polish-Kiwi families.