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Kōrero: Wairarapa places

Polish refugees

Video file

In 1944 the Pahīatua internment camp became home to 734 Polish children and 103 adults, refugees from war-torn Europe. This film clip shows the children being helped into trucks for the drive to the camp. Many of the refugees subsequently settled in New Zealand.

Te whakamahi i tēnei tūemi

Archives New Zealand - Te Rua Mahara o te Kāwanatanga

Reference: Weekly Review 169. National Film Unit, 1944

Permission of Archives New Zealand Te Rua Mahara o te Kāwanatanga must be obtained before any re-use of this material.

Ngā whakaahua me ngā rauemi katoa o tēnei kōrero

Me pēnei te tohu i te whārang

Ben Schrader, Wairarapa places – Pahīatua, Te Ara – the Encyclopedia of New Zealand, https://teara.govt.nz/mi/video/12129/polish-refugees (accessed 4 June 2026).

He kōrero nā Ben Schrader, i tāngia i te 2 March 2009, updated 11 June 2015.