Opening of the exhibition ‘Second homeland…’ in the building of the Sejm of the Republic of Poland

On 16 October 2024, the exhibition ‘The Second Homeland. 80th anniversary of the arrival of Polish children in Pahiatua, New Zealand’ on the initiative of the New Zealand Embassy in Warsaw. The UKEN Documentation Centre for Displaced Persons, Expulsions and Resettlement became a partner of the project.

The exhibition is dedicated to the story of 733 Polish children who, together with their guardians, found refuge in New Zealand after the hardships of Siberian exile. Mrs Aleksandra Kulak, who was one of the ‘Children of Pahiatua’, was present at the opening. Exhibits from the Centre’s collection, which Ms Aleksandra donated to our unit, were loaned for the purpose of creating the exhibition.

Dr Alicja Śmigielska, Dr Mariusz Solarz and Natalia Czesak, M.A., were honoured to participate in this unique event.