Greetings to you all
We have had a long and close relationship with Poland since 1944 when 733 displaced children and 105 carers came to Pahiatua after losing their homes and family during the horrors of World War 2 when the Germans invaded Poland in 1939. In 2018 Pahiatua signed a twin town agreement with Kazimierz Dolny in Poland.
Today Poland has opened its borders to many women and children of the Ukraine fleeing the Russian invasion of their country. Our twin town, Kazimierz Dolny, is providing homes to some of those who have been displaced.
We are looking to offer support to our twin town to help provide assistance to the people of Ukraine living there.
Using our Pahiatua and Dannevirke Theatres we will host a screening of Overcoming Fate, a movie produced by the Christchurch Polish Community telling their story to help raise funds. An online auction will be run with donated items, a great idea we have copied from Weber School.
Utilising our Digital Spaces Hub in Woodville we are working with the Pahiatua Museum to record a virtual tour of the extensive display of the story of the Polish Children of Pahiatua. Virtual tours have rapidly grown in popularity since Covid-19 changed our ability to experience these. It will provide an opportunity for those around New Zealand and the world to share in this story. Funds raised from people taking the virtual tour will be used to give ongoing support to the people of Ukraine in Kazimierz Dolny.
Pūkaha Mt Bruce was the first in our district to add a virtual tour in their offerings and we are keen to see how this works and explore further opportunities for other attractions, such as museums, throughout Tararua, which may be able to utilise the Digital Spaces Hub in Woodville which is funded through the Provincial Growth Fund.
More details will follow on these events as arrangements are made. We are grateful for the peace we enjoy in Tararua and New Zealand and look forward to being able to help support Ukraine directly and locally through our twin town.
Noho ora mai.
Tracey Collis - Mayor