Visit makes link for Polish war refugees
Polish President Andrzej Duda will meet refugees who sought safety in a Tararua town during World War II, on his first visit to New Zealand later this month.
The head of state will be the first Polish leader to meet people who, after being forcibly deported from their homes by Soviet authorities, were granted refuge at the Pahı¯atua Polish Children’s Camp. Set up by the Government, the camp homed 733 children and 102 caregivers who lived there while Poland was Nazi-occupied.
After the war the camp was closed but many of the children settled in New Zealand permanently.
The Republic of Poland confirmed Duda’s ‘‘historic’’ visit in a statement. Duda, the sixth president of Poland, was elected in August 2015.
‘‘These people have been waiting for the Polish president for 75 years and at last their desire will be fulfilled,’’ Krzysztof Szczerski, an aide to Duda, said.
Polish ambassador Zbigniew Gniatkowski said the visit would be a ‘‘great, great moment’’ for bilateral relations. ‘‘The visit in general, it will be focused on Poland and New Zealand as two like-minded countries with a long history. We share the same values on the international stage.’’ The visit comes as a new partnership agreement is to be signed which will see Pahı¯atua become a twin town with Kazimierz Dolny in eastern Poland.