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Kōrero: Greeks – the Hellenic community

The first Greek school in New Zealand, about 1939

Image
The first Greek school in New Zealand, about 1939

In the 1930s a Greek school was established in Wellington: the first teacher was Lefcothea Ambatzi (shown here in the back row). Lessons took place outside regular school hours and there was a strong emphasis on teaching the Greek language. Reinforcing Greek culture was also an important aspect of the programme, as the traditional costumes in this photograph suggest.

Te whakamahi i tēnei tūemi

Alexander Turnbull Library, Greek Orthodox Community of Wellington and Suburbs Collection (PAColl 4924)

Reference: 1/2-177645; F

Permission of the Alexander Turnbull Library, National Library of New Zealand, Te Puna Mātauranga o Aotearoa, must be obtained before any re-use of this image.

Ngā whakaahua me ngā rauemi katoa o tēnei kōrero

Me pēnei te tohu i te whārang

Nancy Swarbrick, Greeks – the Hellenic community – Settlement, Te Ara – the Encyclopedia of New Zealand, https://teara.govt.nz/mi/photograph/125/the-first-greek-school-in-new-zealand-about-1939 (accessed 4 June 2026).

He kōrero nā Nancy Swarbrick, i tāngia i te 4 March 2009, updated 1 August 2024.