The Polish Community Trust is run by a group of people who have different affiliations with Poland. Some of us were born there, some are second-generation Poles from other countries, not necessarily from New Zealand.

However, all of us share the desire to maintain our Polish identities while at the same time being integrated into our New Zealand communities in the Bay of Plenty.

From left: David Niedzielski, Ewa Fenn, Eva Niedzielski, Halina Footner

Who we are

David Niedzielski is of Polish descent. His great-grandparents emigrated to the USA in the 19th century.  He started learning Polish from books in his mid- twenties and strongly identifies with his Polish heritage. He moved to Mt Maunganui, Tauranga, in 2009 with his wife, Eva Niedzielski. 

Ewa Fenn, born in Katowice, has been living in New Zealand since 1982. A Tauranga citizen since 1985, she is well connected and highly respected both locally and nationally through her roles at Tauranga Regional Multicultural Council Inc. (TRMC) or Multicultura Tauranga for short. No longer its President she now acts as community liaison person for Multicultural Tauranga and is free to dedicate more time to the Polish community.

Eva Niedzielski was born in Sopot and left Poland in 1979 for the United Kingdom from where she emigrated to the USA. She regularly spends longer periods of time in Sopot and is an active member of TRMC.

Halina Footner is a first-generation New Zealander whose grandmother moved to New Zealand in 1944, when she supervised Polish orphans aboard a ship to Pahiatua. Halina was brought up in the Polish spirit and culture as both parents spoke Polish at home. She has visited Poland several times attending different schools in order to master her Polish language skills.


What we do

While at present the Polish Language School for children is the Trust's main focus, Trust members, their families as well as other members of the local Polish community participate in and contribute to other organisations' activities.