Polish New Zealanders Explained

Group:	Polish New Zealanders
Population:	2,871 (2018)
Popplace:	Auckland Region, Wellington Region, Canterbury region
Langs:	New Zealand EnglishPolish
Rels:	Catholic, Jewish
Related:	Poles, Polish diaspora

Polish New Zealanders refers to New Zealand citizens or residents of full or partial Polish ancestry, or Polish citizens living in New Zealand. The 2018 census counted 2,871 New Zealanders who claim Polish ancestry.

History

See main article: New Zealand–Poland relations. Small numbers of Polish people began to arrive to New Zealand throughout the 19th century. Among these, many were among the "Brogdenites" employed to build stretches of New Zealand's main railway lines. Many of these settled in small towns close to the rail line such as Greytown (now Allanton) in Otago.

During World War I and World War II, many Polish people became refugees and were relocated to other countries such as New Zealand.

In 1948, The Polish Association was founded by Polish immigrants, to support and to provide a sense of community and togetherness.^[1]

Notable Polish New Zealanders

• John Blumsky, broadcaster^[2]
• Mark Blumsky, politician
• Helen Schamroth, craft artist and author.^[3]
• Mirosław Złotkowski, wrestler
• Simon Mercep, journalist
• Count Geoffrey Potocki de Montalk
  • Dallin Watene-Zelezniak Łukasz Buda
• Zoi Sadowski-Synnott, snowboarder
• Lisa Warrington
• Alfred Ngaro, politician^[4]

See also

• New Zealand–Poland relations
• Polish diaspora
• Immigration to New Zealand
  • • European New Zealanders Europeans in Oceania Polish Australians

Notes and References

1. Web site: About Us . 2023-10-03 . Polish Association in New Zealand . en-NZ.
2. News: Crean . Mike . 10 August 2013 . Doyen of broadcasting . The Press . .
3. Web site: HONEYBONE . LISA . 2010-04-29 . Poland calls local artist . 2023-09-17 . Stuff . en.
4. Web site: 2018-11-12 . An MP’s call to arms . 2023-09-26 . Israel Institute of NZ . en-US.