Polish Community 150th Celebration

Poles Down South

The first Polish immigrants to Southland and Otago arrived in late 1872, and we welcome you to Toitū for this seminar as part of celebrations with the Polish Heritage of Otago & Southland Charitable Trust.

The extent of the challenge for the young families, who first emigrated from Poland to New Zealand in the 1870’s, was almost inconceivable. The journey to Hamburg was itself a leap into the unknown. They discovered that they were valued and their contribution needed and, within a decade or so, many were able to raise a deposit on some land. Little nucleated settlements began to appear with their own sod cottages in places like Allanton so the gamble of escaping the politically and culturally oppressive regimes had paid off. They began to carve out a new future for themselves.

2pm, Saturday 26 November
Toitū Auditorium
Free