Pahiatua Polish Children – 82nd Anniversary Luncheon

Join us on Saturday, 31 October as we come together to commemorate the 82nd anniversary of the arrival of the Pahiatua Polish Children in New Zealand. This special gathering is an opportunity for the Pahiatua Children, their families and friends to reconnect, share memories and celebrate the enduring legacy of this remarkable chapter in Polish-New Zealand history.

Enjoy a buffet luncheon at Angus Inn in Lower Hutt, with plenty of time to catch up, reminisce and celebrate the friendships and connections that have continued across generations. It promises to be a warm and meaningful afternoon honouring the Pahiatua Children and the journey they have shared.

• Buffet luncheon at Angus Inn Lower Hutt - Woburn Room @ Midday

• Cost $70pp - Pahiatua Children no cost

• registration sent by email - association@polishcommunity.org.nz

• or by https://form.jotform.com/262691543880061 before October 24

Movie Night at Dom Polski - Friday 9 October @ 7:30pm

We invite you to Movie Night at the Dom Polski Library in Newtown for a screening of the highly acclaimed Polish film, 'Cold War' (Zimna Wojna). Released in 2018, and directed by Paweł Pawlikowski, it is a passionate, decades-long romance set against the geopolitical divide of post-WWII Europe. It follows Wiktor, a classical musician, and Zula, a fiery young singer, as they navigate an impossible, destructive love affair across Poland, Berlin, Paris, and Yugoslavia from 1949 to 1964. The film is mostly in Polish, with subtitles in English.

The film received numerous accolades, including three nominations at the 91st Academy Awards (Best Foreign Language Film, Best Director and Best Cinematography) and four at the 72nd BAFTA Film Awards, as well as six awards from seven nominations at the 31st European Film Awards, winning the main Best Film Award.

Entry is free, but please bring your own beanbags, camp chairs, cushions to sit or lie on, or for the full experience you can sit on the Dom Polski's own 'old-country' seating. We’ll serve up free popcorn and maybe a glass of wine or soft-drink too (feel free to bring your own).

As there is limited room, please let us know in advance to secure your spot by emailing Ed Polaczuk (epolaczuk@gmail.com) or Andrzej Nowicki  (andrzejknowicki@yahoo.com.au).

Looking forward to seeing you there!

Wieczór filmowy w Domu Polskim – piątek, 9 października, godz. 19:30

Zapraszamy Was na wieczór filmowy w bibliotece Domu Polskiego w Newtown, na wyświetlenie renomowanego filmu polskiego z 2018r.  „Zimna wojna”. Reżyserowany przez Pawła Pawlikowskiego, to namiętny, trwający dekady romans, którego akcja rozgrywa się na tle geopolitycznych podziałów powojennej Europy. Film śledzi losy Wiktora, muzyka klasycznego, i Zuli, młodej, porywczej piosenkarki, którzy w latach 1949–1964 przeżywają niemożliwy, destrukcyjny romans w Polsce, Berlinie, Paryżu i Jugosławii. Film jest w większości w języku polskim, z napisami po angielsku.  

Film otrzymał liczne wyróżnienia, w tym trzy nominacje do 91. Oscarów (za najlepszy film nieanglojęzyczny, najlepszą reżyserię i najlepsze zdjęcia) oraz cztery na 72. gali rozdania nagród BAFTA, a także sześć nagród spośród siedmiu nominacji na 31. Europejskich Nagrodach Filmowych, zdobywając główną nagrodę najlepszego filmu.

Wstęp jest bezpłatny, ale prosimy o przyniesienie własnych puf, krzeseł kempingowych, poduszek do siedzenia lub leżenia, a dla pełnego doświadczenia można siedzieć na „staromodnych” krzesłach Domu Polskiego. Poczęstujemy Wam popcorn, a może będzie nawet lampka wina lub będą napoje bezalkoholowe (możesz również przynieść własne).

Skoro miejsce w bibliotece jest ograniczone, napiszcie zawczasu do Edzia Polaczuka (epolaczuk@gmail.com) lub Andrzeja Nowickiego (andrzejknowicki@yahoo.com.au) aby zarezerwować sobie miejsca. 

Do zobaczenia!

Join us for a coffee and catch up at our monthly senior’s get together. This month it will be held at the Farm Cafe at Boulcott Farm Heritage Golf Club.

Experience Slavic and Balkan culture at Slavfest 2026!

Food, traditional activitieis, music and dance - a great day out for the whole family, plus it is free entry!

We hope to see you there!

Join us for our AGM and a coffee to follow.

Join us for a coffee and catch up at our monthly senior’s get together. This month it will be held at the cafe in California Home and Garden in Lower Hutt.

If you can spare an hour or two, we would greatly appreciate some extra hands at the Dom Polski for our working bee.

It takes a lot of time and effort to keep Dom Polski in a condition where we can use it for our community events and hire it out to the wider community.

Many hands make light work!

Enjoy a relaxed catch-up over a delicious bit to eat and a warm drink at the cafe. As the venue is indoors, the event will go ahead whatever the weather.

Transport will be by private cars, either self drive, or if you would like a ride, please contact Basia Hanson by 19 June.

The Polish Ex-Servicemen Association in New Zealand invites members to their Annual General Meeting on Sunday 24 May 2026 in the downstairs library at Dom Polski. Refreshments will be served after the meeting.

We need your help!!!

We are holding a working bee in the Dom Polski library on 24 May 2026 from 11.00am-2.00pm. This work ensures the ongoing upkeep of Dom Polski so our community can continue to benefit from the space.

If you can lend an hour or three, we would be so grateful!

Come along to enjoy a bite to eat and a catch up with friends.

Mass will be celebrated at Sacred Heart Church in commemoration of 3ci Maj

Mass will be celebrated at Sacred Heart Church to commemorate ANZAC Day.

Come along for some games of bingo, afternoon tea and good company!

Sunday 8 March will see the Polish Association host the third Little Poland at the Newtown

Festival. As in previous years, this Polish zone will be located just around the corner from the

Dom Polski on Arney St. With between 10,000 to 15,000 visitors expected, this is likely to be the

largest Polish event in the country this year.

Little Poland opens at 10am and will keep going with a Newtown Festival after-party

that will run from 4:30 until 7pm.

Help Needed

Polish baking is a traditional part of our festivals and markets and always popular with the

crowds, but we need your baking to keep it well stocked.

If you would like to help us with this or anything else, please contact Ela (Lizzy) Polaczuk-

Rombel on association@polishcommunity.org.nz

The Polish Association in NZ inc will be holding an SGM meeting to discuss changes to the constitution which need to be made due to legislative changes. The meeting will be held as follows:

Date: Sunday, 22 February 2026
Time: 3:00 pm
Venue: Dom Polski

Members are strongly encouraged to attend, as these matters are important to the governance and future operation of the Association, and necessary for our registration under the Incorporated Societies Act 2022.

SAVE THE DATE

Mass and the Pilgrimage to the Our Lady of Lourdes statue is planned for:

Saturday 7 February 2026

Transport will be by van and private car.

Further details to come.

Join us in the Dom Polski Library on Saturday, 13 December at 2.00pm for an afternoon of tradition, carol singing and joyful fellowship.

-Share the Christmas wafer and exchange good wishes
-Sing our beautiful Polish Christmas carols
-Enjoy a festive afternoon tea

Please RSVP by 29 November to Basia (04 5677774) or Jennifer (0273756004) or email association@polishcommunity.org.nz.

A small contribution to afternoon tea would be appreciated but is not essential.

Join us for the Polish Children’s Christmas Party on 6 December 2025 from 1pm-3pm at Dom Polski.

There will be face painting, balloon art, games, Christmas carols, party food and of course, santa.

Please bring a plate to share and a wrapped gift clearly labelled with your child’s name.

Join us for a range of Polish Folk Dance workshops with guest instructors from the Wielkoposkie region.

Thursday 27 Novemver - 7 - 9pm Orzel Master Class at Dom Polski

Friday 28 November 6 - 9pm National Dances workshop at Dom Polski (for people 13 years plus)

Saturday 29 November 2.30 - 4pm at Te Whaea - National Dances workshop (for children 7 - 13 years)

Information about the Instructors:

Piotr Kulka is a prominent figure in the world of Greater Poland folklore—a choreographer, educator, cultural manager, and regionalist. For many years, he has led the "Wielkopolanie" Folklore Ensemble, operating under the patronage of the Provincial Public Library and the Cultural Animation Center in Poznań. He is an expert for the Polish Section of CIOFF—the International Council of Folklore Associations—and a member of the Polish Ethnological Society. Through his knowledge and commitment, he collaborates with numerous cultural centers to recreate the forgotten traditions, customs, dances, music, and folk costumes of many subregions of Greater Poland. He also conducts educational activities, organizing numerous concerts and workshops for children and young people, and collaborates with universities and cultural institutions in Poland and abroad.

Piotr Kulka is a pillar of the folk culture of Greater Poland, whose work ensures that the region's traditions do not disappear, but are kept alive and passed on to future generations.

Jan Zgoła has been associated with the Wielkopolanie Folkloristic Ensemble since 2008, where he develops his passion for dance and traditional culture. Folklore has always been a part of his life – for him, it is not only a form of artistic expression but also a way to cultivate the traditions of Greater Poland and Poland. At the age of 25, he proudly continues this path, combining this tradition with the energy of the younger generation.

Maria Kulka has been associated with the "Wielkopolanie" Folkloristic Ensemble for 13 years, having previously developed her skills in the "Cepelia Poznań" Children's Folkloristic Ensemble. For many years, she has consistently honed her skills in Polish folklore, combining dance with a true passion for tradition. In addition to folk dance, she also practices social dances, successfully representing Greater Poland at the National Polish Dance Tournaments, consistently achieving top places.

The workshop program involves learning Szamotuły games and dances from the Wielkopolska region.

Plans are well underway for the 2025 Wellington Polish Christmas Market. Since the first event in 2017, we’re proud to have more than tripled the number of stalls featuring Polish or Polish themed goods, run by members of our community or by others of Polish descent from 8 to 25 stalls. That’s a number we’d like to keep building, so to encourage new stallholders from our community, we are offering members of our community 2025 stall sites at 2024 rates.

Polish community applicants will also:
• enjoy preference over other new stallholders for stalls in their preferred locations, and
• qualify for 50% off the price of a Newtown Festival stall in the thriving Little Poland zone at New Zealand’s biggest street Festival on Sunday 8 March 2026.

The more the merrier. Sharing a stall is a great way to dip a toe in the stall holding experience and have a lot of fun, so why not invite family and friends to join you this year. This offer expires on Sunday 14 September, so if you are interested, please contact us on wellingtonpolishchristmas@gmail.com or text 027 839 7867 and we’ll get you set up with an application form.

All applications close on Sunday 21 Sunday, so be quick to avoid disappointment. This year we hope to bring live performances, food stalls and outdoor seating to the Arney St zone to get that unique Wellington Polish Christmas Market vibe working around the whole site. A new layout for Rhodes St will also help us to make the most of the space on the street. Looking forward to seeing you all around the Dom Polski on 15 November, particularly with some new Polish faces on the other side of the stall tables

On Sunday, November 2, at 8:30am, the Polish community will gather for a moment both solemn and deeply moving—the final Mass at St Martin de Porres Church in Avalon, Lower Hutt. The liturgy will be celebrated by Archbishop Paul Martin, joined by clergy from across the region, including our own Ks. Tadeusz Świątkowski.

Do you have memories or photos of St Martin de Porres Church over the years? We are creating a photo display in the church foyer to remind us of the special times we have shared. If you would like to contribute, please contact Ela Polaczuk Rombel on 027 660 5812.

We warmly invite you to join us for a special day of remembrance and celebration in Pahiatua. This event promises a meaningful program honouring our community, history, and heritage.

Saturday, 1 November 2025

• 11:00 am – Powhiri at the Marae

Join us for a traditional welcome ceremony, followed by a cup of tea.

• 12:00 pm – Museum Visit & Award Ceremony

The Museum will host a special award ceremony, where the Polish ambassador will bestow an award on the institution. A tree will also be planted in memory of Tony Juchnowicz.

For those not visiting the museum, options include exploring St Brigid’s, strolling around town, or heading directly to Masters Hall to catch up with friends.

• 1:00 pm – Lunch at Masters Hall

Enjoy a casual lunch. Thyme 2 Ryes will happily prepare individual lunch-boxes in two sizes $11 and $15. Those who received these last year will remember what treats they contained.

These need to be pre ordered by a week earlier by phoning Gilda on 06 3767445 or 0275767445 Alternatively, email the museum pahiatuamuseum@gmail.com

• 2:00 pm – Film Screening & Afternoon Tea

A film presentation “Pahiatua Polish Children 80th Anniversary“ will be followed by afternoon tea.

• 3:30 pm – Memorial Ceremony

The day will conclude with a wreath-laying ceremony at the Memorial.

We encourage youth to attend in costume to help bring the day’s history to life.

This commemoration offers a meaningful opportunity to reflect, celebrate, and connect with friends, family, and the broader community. We look forward to seeing you in Pahiatua!

Please feel free to contact Gilda McKnight on 027 576 7445 or Ela Polaczuk Rombel on 027 660 5812 for any questions or further information.

Join Orlęta for their rendition of Jack & the Beanstalk. A show not be missed!

Appropriate for all ages young and old.

Join us on Saturday 18 October at 11.00am for a coffee at Shine Cafe (2 Waterloo Road, Lower Hutt).

Transport will be by private cars, either self drive, or if you would like a ride, please contact Basia Hanson on 04 5677774 by 14 October 2025.

PLEASE NOTE: This location has been updated from the previous location we had planned to hold it at.