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.

We’re thrilled to welcome Maciej Wilczyński to Wellington this September! Maciej is a renowned dancer, choreographer, and cultural ambassador for Polish folk traditions.

Currently collaborating with Poland’s National Song and Dance Ensemble “Silesia” through the Zatańcz z Nami project, he has created over 50 stage arrangements and conducted more than 40 dance workshops across Europe, North America, and Asia.

In 2022, he received the prestigious Creative Scholarship of the City of Kraków for his contributions to folk culture.

Workshop Focus: The dances and traditions of the Cieszyn region

Maciej will lead two sessions tailored for different age groups:

 Workshop 1 - 4:30pm – 6:00pm

Children aged 5–10 years

(All Polish children welcome!)

 Workshop 2 - 6:30pm – 9:00pm

Open to all dancers and enthusiasts

Cost: $10 per participant

Try your luck at a few rounds of bingo and enjoy a cuppa and a chat!

SlavFest 2025 - A vibrant celebration of Slavic and Eastern European culture! Mark your calendars: September 6th at Te Whaea: National School of Drama and Dance in Newtown, Wellington. We can’t wait to dance, sing, and celebrate with you all! See you there!

Join us on Sunday 24 August 2025 at 1.00pm for the Polish Association in NZ’s AGM. You don’t have to be a paid member to attend the AGM, but you need to be a paid member to vote. You will also get to see and hear about everything that the Association accomplished throughout the year and plans going forward.

We invite our seniors to a coffee outing on Wednesday 30 July 2025 from 11.00am at Palmers Garden Centre in Plimmerton.

Transport will be by private cars, either self drive, or if you would like a ride, please contact Basia Hanson on 04 5677774 by 25 July 2025.

Wander among the thousands of plants, with much of the area undercover, so this outing is not weather dependent. We'll grab a bite to eat and a hot drink in the cafe and there is an opportunity to shop for upcoming special occasions in the gift shop.

Join the SPK at their AGM on Sunday 6 July 2025 at 1.30pm in the Dom Polski library.

We invite you for a walk down memory lane. Bring along some photos that will spark memories for you and others, have a cuppa and enjoy the company.

We welcome you to celebrate Children’s Day with us at our pool party!! There will be a special entry price for children 8-16. Under 8’s free!

Bring a plate to share and come and have some fun with friends!

Come along for a few games of bingo, a cupper and good company!

On 4th May, Poland’s Constitution Day will be celebrated at Dom Polski with a High Tea and some very special entertainment. We are also taking this opportunity to formally welcome the new Head of Mission at the Embassy of the Republic of Poland, Mr Patryk Błaszczak and his family. We ask that those who plan to attend, to RSVP to association@polishcommunity.org.nz.

Krakerjack is performing at Moon Bar on Saturday May 3rd, a day of celebration for Poles! Alongside the entertainment, Moon Bar will service Polish food and drinks including Pōrana Piwo from award-winning Kereru Brewing.

Join us for a meal and good company following the Anzac Day and Katyn memorial mass.

You are invited to our Easter Party! There will be egg painting, crafts, games and party food.

Suitable for children (and adults) of all ages.

Please bring along a plate of food to share. We hope to see you there!!

Come along for a cuppa and try your hand at a few games of bingo!

Come and immerse yourself in Polish culture in “Little Poland” at Newtown Festival.

We are taking over Arney Street with Polish food, beer, music, dancing and stalls and it is a day you DON’T want to miss.

10.30am - Performance by Orzel and Orleta dance groups

11.30am - Dance workshop for kids

12.30pm - Dance workshop for teens and adults (children are welcome to join in but may find it a little harder)

There will also be live and pre-recorded music throughout the day.