Beyond Pahiatua

This story highlights the next chapter of the refugee children of Pahiatua. Each child grew up to forge their own paths in Wellington and beyond. There was a strong focus on retaining culture and passing this onto future generations. 

Commemoration such as through anniversary events, get togethers, traditional polish dancing, and eating polish food honored Polish traditions the Children of Pahiatua associated with home. 

A great impression on my life

Geoff Bennett

Even though my recollections may not mean much in the overall scale of the Polish children's experiences, they nevertheless made a great impression on my life.

The exodus from the camp continued as each year those children who had finished Polish school up to Standard 6 left for New Zealand schools or apprenticeships. The last group of children left the camp on 15 April 1949. Thus, by the time the camp was closed in 1949, many of the children were already working or attending New Zealand day and boarding schools. The youngest girls were transferred to the Polish Girls' Hostel "Ngaroma" in Queen's Drive, Lyall Bay, Wellington, which closed in 1958. The older boys were accommodated at the Polish Boys' Hostel, Clyde Street, Island Bay, Wellington, until 1952. A group of the youngest boys was cared for at the Polish Boys' Hostel in Princess Street, Hawera, until 1954.

...growing up in the Polish Children's Camp, leaving for New Zealand's schools, finding work, getting married, having children and grandchildren… In short, all the trials, tribulations, joys and triumphs of successfully making it in a foreign land against so many odds.

As the Polish army was demobilised, there arose the possibility of bringing some of the children's relatives to New Zealand. Soon afterwards, Polish ex-servicemen and other relatives began arriving from Africa, India and Britain. In 1948, they formed the Polish Association in New Zealand, which was based in Wellington. Thus, the children formed the nucleus around which the Polish post-war community in New Zealand developed.

Keeping the values

Ed Juchnowicz son of Wacław and Felicja Juchnowicz (Nadolska)

The Polish House in Newtown, Wellington, provided a focal point for Polish culture in my youth. Visits included meals on Mother's Day, and the occasional film and bookstall. The Polish Youth Club committee organised dances and events.

I have continued to influence my own children in similar ways to my own upbringing. We attend Mass on Sundays, followed by a visit to my parents for breakfast. As my children become older and more independent, they become less inclined or would prefer such attendances if they coincided with meeting their own peers, such as children's worship at church.

The buildings were sold for use as barns, halls and beach cottages. Some of the best-preserved camp buildings are still in use, such as at the Southern Cross Abbey in Takapau, Hawke's Bay. The land then reverted to farmland. Thereafter, nothing remained of the original camp to remind anyone that a huge camp had existed, except for a small grotto shrine on its northern perimeter which the Polish children had helped to build from rocks from the local Mangatainoka River in 1945 for their religious devotions.

The Polish Association of New Zealand has traditional Polish dance groups who are dedicated to enriching their lives with performance arts of historical importance and identity:

Orlęta is a Polish Folkloric Dance Group designed for young people aged 3 – 15 years. The name Orlęta translates to mean “young eagles”, the white eagle is the traditional symbol of Poland.

The aim of the group is to introduce youth to the beautiful music, traditions and folklore of Poland.  Orlęta promotes, among young Polish New Zealanders, a sense of identity as well as a chance to share their joy of dance and song with the Greater Wellington community.

The coins in circulation during the times that the Polish refugee children were in Poland, the coins were created circa 1831-1840.

Keeping the values

Ed Juchnowicz son of Wacław and Felicja Juchnowicz (Nadolska)

My trips to Poland were in part to satisfy my curiosity about the country my parents left all those years ago. In some rural areas, time had fairly much stood still (in the mid-1980s) and I could compare the life of a Polish citizen to that which I knew. I also witnessed the remains of the destruction and the efforts that the Polish people were making to rebuild their country. It will be interesting to compare this on my next trip in years to come.

Exhibition of gifts for New Zealand from Polish soldiers

Exhibition of gifts to be sent to New Zealand, as displayed at Cupra Marittima, italy, during World War Two. The gifts were made by Polish soldiers to give to New Zealand as an expression of their heartfelt gratitude for New Zealand's treatment of the Polish children refugees and appreciation of the great friendship shown to the soldiers through the sending of correspondence and parcels, during World War Two.

The following books are resources to help understand the stories, emotions and flourishing lives of the Polish Children of Pahiatua past and present. Through so many changes in their lives, the Polish refugee children created new homes for themselves despite the grave challenges they have previously faced: 

A teacher's pride

Mary McAllister

My hope is that this will endure for generations to come while being ever mindful of the courage of those who started it all – the Polish children of the Pahiatua camp.