‘Poles Apart is the story of 733 Polish orphans who came to New Zealand in 1944. With a backdrop provided by the events of World War Two, the documentary traces their long and arduous journey from Poland through Siberia, Uzbekistan and Persia to New Zealand: a journey that takes them from the warmth and comfort of their homes in Poland, to the freezing barracks of Siberian forced labour camps, to the suffocating heat of the mud huts of Uzbekistan, to converted harems and stables of the Shah of Persia and finally to a former army camp in Pahiatua, New Zealand.’
‘Polish children in Persia 1942-44’ and ‘Little Poland in Pahiatua’ exhibition of photographs are on display in the Upper Gallery for viewing after the film.
This documentary was made for the 60th reunion and has a number of the now adults interviews on their thoughts about this incredible story
”Soviet Story’ is the most powerful antidote yet to the sanitation of the past.The film is gripping, audacious and uncompromising.’ The Economist
This is a story of an Allied power, which helped the Nazis to fight Jews and which slaughtered its own people on an industrial scale.
Assisted by the West, this power triumphed on May 9th 1945. Its crimes were made taboo and the complete story of Europe’s most murderous regime has never been told till now.
Mature audience only.
Last days finishes on Nov 16th
First Photographers of Warsaw -Beyer, Brandel, Fajans
Take a fascinating journey across Warsaw in the second half of the nineteenth century, as recorded by outstanding precursors of Polish photography: Karol Beyer, Maksymilian Fajans and Konrad Brandel.
The accomplishments of three outstanding representatives of Polish photography constitute the foundation of Warsaw‘s photographic heritage.Their works possess predominantly documentary merits making it possible to take a totally new look at Warsaw‘s familiar places.
At the same time, they illustrate the progress of the art and technique of photography – from first attempts at static plein (open) air photographs to dynamic scenes from the life of the town.
These selected images are from an outdoor exhibit held in Warsaw 2015 and come from monographic albums about the three photographers, written by Danuta Jackiewicz and published by Dom Spotkan z Historia and the National Museum in Warsaw.
PHTM gives special thanks to the National Museum in Warsaw for allowing this selection of images to be on show in NZ. Other centres in New Zealand will have the opportunity to view this exhibition. Please contact us with expressions of interest to take part in this travelling exhibition from December 2016 to November 2017.
Exhibition runs during our opening hours Tuesday – Friday 10-4 and Sunday 12-5
Safe Haven Exhibition
Nestled 2km south of Pahiatua township was a temporary army camp located at the racecourse, which later provided a safe haven for the Polish children and adults, from 1944 till 1949. They remember the kindness of the Pahiatua locals. Come share their experiences.
Exhibition runs during our opening hours as part of the ‘Auckland Festival of Photography’ 2017. Polish films on Sunday commence July
”Soviet Story’ is the most powerful antidote yet to the sanitation of the past.
This film is gripping, audacious and uncompromising.’ The Economist
This is a story of an Allied power, which helped the Nazis to fight Jews and which slaughtered its own people on an industrial scale.
Assisted by the West, this power triumphed on May 9th 1945. Its crimes were made taboo and the complete story of Europe’s most murderous regime has never been told till now.
Mature audience only.
Talk: Out of Poland – A Holocaust Story
Part of the AUCKLAND HERITAGE FESTIVAL 2017: A H F comes to Howick
Author Jenny Harrison shares the discovery, research and writing of her book ‘Out of Poland: When the best revenge is to have survived’. “For years the brown leather suitcase had lain hidden under the house. Someone had placed it there, away from prying eyes, behind the aching twist of floor joists and gurgling pipes. When it was finally opened it would prove to be a Pandora’s Box. The present-day Siegel family knew nothing of their relatives only that they had lived and died in Poland during WW2. It was only when the suitcase was opened they finally learnt their father’s dreadful secret. He had fled to New Zealand. But did he really escape? Or was he forever haunted by what he had left behind?” Stay for morning tea, meet Jenny and look around the museum galleries.
Wednesday 4th October 10.30 to 11.30am, doors open 10am
Stay after and met Jenny, plus wander the galleries within the museum.
Free entry. All welcome.
This exhibition is part of the Arts Out East Festival 2018
View delightful styles of Polish ceramics, from hand-painted Boleslawiec blue dot tableware, famous in Europe for several hundred years, to regional Kashubian plates and a vintage folk-art floral teapot.
The other galleries in the museum will also be open.
Entry by Donation
”Soviet Story’ is the most powerful antidote yet to the sanitation of the past.
This film is gripping, audacious and uncompromising.’ The Economist
This is a story of an Allied power, which helped the Nazis to fight Jews and which slaughtered its own people on an industrial scale.
Assisted by the West, this power triumphed on May 9th 1945. Its crimes were made taboo and the complete story of Europe’s most murderous regime has never been told till now.
Mature audience only.
‘Battle of Warsaw – Uprising in 1944 / Bitwa o Warszawe – Powstanie w 44’ dir. Wanda Koscia (2005). History of the Warsaw Uprising, the bloodiest military action taken by the only underground army in occupied Europe.
The history of the 1944 Warsaw Uprising presented from the perspective of participants, mainly insurgents who in a lively, involved and emotional way talk about their experiences, fate of their friends and their beloved city. The story is also told from 2 other perspectives, a German soldier, who participated in the brutal suppression of the Warsaw’s quarter Wola and a British pilot and member of the British Military Mission in Moscow.
Their accounts allow their views to reconstruct a dramatic story of the uprising and the personal dramas of its participants.Produced in Poland and Great Britain. (47 min)
PLUS
‘A Forgotten Odyssey’ dir. Jagna Wright (2000). In 1940, after Russia invaded Poland, Stalin deported 1.7 million Poles to slave labour camps in Siberia and Kazakhstan. Only one third of them survived.
They tell their stories. The main destinations of these transports were Archangelsk and Kazakhstan. In some cases, the deportees were just dumped in the middle of a forest and told to build their own shelters. In other cases, they were moved to various collective farms called “kolhozs” (collectivnoye hoziaystvo).
It is estimated that slightly more than 100,000 people were later transported to Pahlevi, Persia, via the Caspian Sea. Roughly half were soldiers and half civilians. This constitutes about 7 percent of all Polish citizens who were in Russia between September 1939 and June 1941.
How many remained in Russia, how many died, how many were allowed to return to Poland after the war can be only speculated. (52 min)
This exhibition is part of the Auckland Heritage Festival 2018
View delightful styles of Polish ceramics, from hand-painted Boleslawiec blue dot tableware, famous in Europe for several hundred years, to regional Kashubian plates and a vintage folk-art floral teapot.
The other galleries in the museum will also be open.
Entry by Donation to the museum is suggested $10 – $5