Auckland Heritage Festival Polish Explorers of Oceania

Wander through an exhibition about Polish ethnographers, naturalists, journalists and travellers who lived and worked across Oceania documenting cultures, flora and fauna.

John Kubary was an ethnographer and naturalist who visited hundreds of Pacific islands, living among the inhabitants for 27 years. Kubary visited Auckland in 1875, meeting local Māori and their leaders. He sketched original tattoos, tools and constructions across Oceania.

Paul Edmund Strzelecki was an explorer, geologist and philanthropist who stayed in Auckland province as a guest of James Busby in 1839.

Johann Forster, along with his son Georg, of Scottish-Polish descent, were naturalists on James Cook's second Pacific voyage, the Resolution, 1772-1775. Georg was a naturalist, ethnologist, travel writer, journalist, and revolutionary who accompanied his father on several scientific expeditions.

Polish Museum, 125 Elliot St, Howick.
Ph. 09 5333530
Email phtmuseum@outlook.com

Image credit: ‘J. St. Kubary during his research’, author unknown, Museum Godeffroy photo album, photo #5, now in library of the Grassi Museum of Ethnology in Leipzig.