On 22 August, 2018 Polish President Andrzej Duda and First Lady Agata Kornhauser-Duda began their official three-day visit to New Zealand. The presidential couple was greeted by Governor General Patsy Reddie and her husband, David Gascoigne, in Auckland.
Their schedule in Auckland included laying a wreath at the Hall of Memories in remembrance of Word War II, viewing an exhibition commemorating Marshal Jozef Pilsudski, a joint press conference with the Prime Minister of New Zealand Jacinda Ardern, a meeting with the opposition leader Simon Bridges, and a gathering with the Polish community at Auckland's Dom Polski cultural centre. First Lady Agata Kornhauser-Duda had met with Polish language teachers at the Polish Heritage Trust Museum in Howick earlier in the day. Polish Ambassador to New Zealand Zbigniew Gniatkowski, Consul Agnieszka Kacperska and Honorary Consul Bogdan Nowak accompanied the Presidential Couple during the visit in New Zealand.
Delegations from Polish communities across New Zealand came to celebrate the visit of the Polish head of state to New Zealand - the first one in history. Eva Niedzielski as well as Ula and Hans Kraenzlin represented the Polish community in Tauranga. At Dom Polski President Andrzej Duda presented state decorations (Order of Merit of the Republic of Poland) to the most prominent activists of Polonia and gave a speech to over a hundred Polish people.
In his speech President Duda graciously thanked New Zealand Polonia for preserving Polish culture and traditions despite being far from their homeland. He spoke eloquently about the Pahiatua children, and remarked that the accomplishments and character of New Zealanders of Polish descent contributed greatly to the lofty opinion of Poland held within this country. He pointed out the progress Poland has made through and despite the most challenging of times, and made a stirring call for Poles to return to their ancestral homeland from which their hearts had never ever really left.
Visiting Wellington the following day, the presidential couple officially opened the Polish Children’s Square in honour of Polish children who lost their parents in World War II. Later that day they laid flowers at the plaque commemorating the Polish children from Pahiatua.
President Andrzej Duda's full speech can be watched on Youtube by clicking here.
For a full report on the presidential couple's visit and more photos see the Polish Embassy's website.
Photos, from left: Eva Niedzielski with President Duda; Ula Kraenzlin and Eva Niedzielski with First Lady Agata Kornhauser-Duda (centre); Ula Kraenzlin, Agata Kornhauser-Duda, Hans Kraenzlin
Their schedule in Auckland included laying a wreath at the Hall of Memories in remembrance of Word War II, viewing an exhibition commemorating Marshal Jozef Pilsudski, a joint press conference with the Prime Minister of New Zealand Jacinda Ardern, a meeting with the opposition leader Simon Bridges, and a gathering with the Polish community at Auckland's Dom Polski cultural centre. First Lady Agata Kornhauser-Duda had met with Polish language teachers at the Polish Heritage Trust Museum in Howick earlier in the day. Polish Ambassador to New Zealand Zbigniew Gniatkowski, Consul Agnieszka Kacperska and Honorary Consul Bogdan Nowak accompanied the Presidential Couple during the visit in New Zealand.
Delegations from Polish communities across New Zealand came to celebrate the visit of the Polish head of state to New Zealand - the first one in history. Eva Niedzielski as well as Ula and Hans Kraenzlin represented the Polish community in Tauranga. At Dom Polski President Andrzej Duda presented state decorations (Order of Merit of the Republic of Poland) to the most prominent activists of Polonia and gave a speech to over a hundred Polish people.
In his speech President Duda graciously thanked New Zealand Polonia for preserving Polish culture and traditions despite being far from their homeland. He spoke eloquently about the Pahiatua children, and remarked that the accomplishments and character of New Zealanders of Polish descent contributed greatly to the lofty opinion of Poland held within this country. He pointed out the progress Poland has made through and despite the most challenging of times, and made a stirring call for Poles to return to their ancestral homeland from which their hearts had never ever really left.
Visiting Wellington the following day, the presidential couple officially opened the Polish Children’s Square in honour of Polish children who lost their parents in World War II. Later that day they laid flowers at the plaque commemorating the Polish children from Pahiatua.
President Andrzej Duda's full speech can be watched on Youtube by clicking here.
For a full report on the presidential couple's visit and more photos see the Polish Embassy's website.
Photos, from left: Eva Niedzielski with President Duda; Ula Kraenzlin and Eva Niedzielski with First Lady Agata Kornhauser-Duda (centre); Ula Kraenzlin, Agata Kornhauser-Duda, Hans Kraenzlin
|
|
|
