Magdalena James playing Chopin
On 28 March 2015 Tauranga Art Gallery hosted an event organised by the Polish Community Trust: a concert and an exhibition of photographs by Krzysztof Pfeiffer and Artur Nosiadek. The event was sponsored by the Embassy of the Republic of Poland, Creative Tauranga and Tauranga Art Gallery.
The motto of the evening, So far away and yet so close, referred to the photography part of the evening - Polish and New Zealand landscapes showing differences of the countries divided by distance, but also similarities and hence commonalities linking the two.
The musical part was classical and, of course, included Chopin as well as other composers played by Magdalena James, Korean and New Zealand born musicians.
Simon Bridges, Member of Parliament for Tauranga, who had been invited not least because his wife is of Polish descent, said they were considering enrolling their child at the Polish Language School.
Deputy Mayor Kelvin Clout, who regularly conducts citizenship ceremonies held by Tauranga City Council, pointed out that he always welcomes Polish people into New Zealand society when he hands them New Zealand citizenship. He is looking forward to their enthusiasm and contribution to New Zealand.
Representing Poland were Polish Ambassador to New Zealand Zbigniew Gniatkowski from Wellington and Honorary Consul Boguslaw Nowak from Auckland. For Ambassador Gniatkowski it was his first visit to Tauranga. He said he was looking forward to the cooperation between the two countries.
The motto of the evening, So far away and yet so close, referred to the photography part of the evening - Polish and New Zealand landscapes showing differences of the countries divided by distance, but also similarities and hence commonalities linking the two.
The musical part was classical and, of course, included Chopin as well as other composers played by Magdalena James, Korean and New Zealand born musicians.
Simon Bridges, Member of Parliament for Tauranga, who had been invited not least because his wife is of Polish descent, said they were considering enrolling their child at the Polish Language School.
Deputy Mayor Kelvin Clout, who regularly conducts citizenship ceremonies held by Tauranga City Council, pointed out that he always welcomes Polish people into New Zealand society when he hands them New Zealand citizenship. He is looking forward to their enthusiasm and contribution to New Zealand.
Representing Poland were Polish Ambassador to New Zealand Zbigniew Gniatkowski from Wellington and Honorary Consul Boguslaw Nowak from Auckland. For Ambassador Gniatkowski it was his first visit to Tauranga. He said he was looking forward to the cooperation between the two countries.
