The Story of Seven-Hundred Polish Children

That was a really good clip. I am writing a story about this subject and it has been great help to learn more about what happened to the children that came over to New Zealand during world war 2. Those were some brave children that took that trip from Poland to New Zealand.

Consider the following comparisons -
During WWII the UK took in about 10,000 child refugees and the US took in about 1400. Proportional to the respective total populations at that time, New Zealand took in twice as many as the UK and 40 times as many as the US. Another example of why New Zealanders can stand proud.

What an amazing story of courage and hope. I wonder if sir Peter Jackson or Steven Spielberg would make this into a movie - as it would be of major benefit to their descendants and to the new generations here today and yet to come. Thank you for providing this tragic yet beautiful and powerful story.

Thank you Paul, I will look into that. Amiee

@Karol, @Amie: Paul from NZ On Screen here. We only have the rights to stream the film on the website. It is part of the National Film Unit collection that is in the stewardship of Archives New Zealand. I'm sure it would be possible to order a DVD from Archives NZ, but you may have to pay for the costs. Click on the 'buy' tab above (below right of the player) for their contact details. The film is indeed a moving account of epic journey that your ancestors underwent.

Hi again, the movie can be downloaded but not sure with the new copyright laws. NZ On Screen would need to say if they can release this on DVD for people interested. I have had several from overseas asking about this - so a good idea I think.

Amiee, yes this story is very moving... my aunt talked about the snow, and how they had little to wear, and if you missed the dinner time, you went hungry even more than usual....

That was my Great Aunty in this film talking how her mother was found frozen in the snow. This is the first time I have heard about what really happened. So sad! They don't like to talk about it. I would like a copy for family history.

@Ireneusz There are details about where you can buy this film in the tab above (to the right and below the player) which says BUY IT.
However it is also free to view here from anywhere in the world.

I am polish man who is trying to get this film.
Does anyone have a copy of the film ?
It would be grateful if you help me please.

Wow, there is a short Sean Penn's appearance in the second clip :)

There's also now an online digital version of the book you mentioned Stan "New Zealand's First Refugees: Pahiatua's Polish Children" provided with permission by the New Zeland Electronic Text Centre on their website.

It's free to download and re-use, they even provide it in ePUB format (for ebook readers etc).

J

Thank you so much for this gift of history. My mother Wanda and aunt Anna Kozlowska were given new lives in New Zealand. Thank you for the gift of history you have given us, their children. Vicki Olsen

Thank you for publishing the documentary. Our family (and there are many of us now) have been watching it all over New Zealand. Our great uncle and grandmother are in the film. While it tugs at the heart to be reminded of such a harsh time in their lives we have prospered in New Zealand. My Grandfather always took the view that no matter what had happened - we were the lucky ones.

Thanks for making this footage available to the public. I want to acknowledge the Polish children, who endured unbearable hardship and crossed to this faraway country, where they created lives for themselves, raised children and become grandparents and then great grandparents.
I see my beautiful polish-kiwi nephews whose Pra-Babcia and Pra-Dzadzio were among those 700, and I am amazed at what the human spirit can rise above - that the brave survivors of such hardship managed to live their lives in a way that led to these bright and wonderful boys, their beautiful mother and loving uncles, their dear grandmother/Babcia.

In reply to Karol, there are books about personal recollections by the former Polish children of Pahiatua who are the subject of this excellent film. One of the most comprehensive is the book titled "New Zealand's First Refugees - Pahiatua's Polish Children" published in 2004 by a group of the former Polish children. It is distributed by Southern Publishing in Auckland and can be ordered through book shops. It is over 400 pages, with over 100 personal stories by the children and by those New Zealanders who were personally involved with them at the time. It has 48 pages of archival photographs.
Stan

Great to see this, my dad never talked about what happened. He ended up in South Rhodesia (now called Zimbabwe).
My father made his way to New Zealand in the 1950s after meeting my mum, on his many journeys as a merchant seaman - my mum was born in NZ.
It would be good to be better referenced to the actual stories and the details of the camps that the Eastern Borderlands Polish people were displaced from - forced into labor + concentration camps in the vastness of Russia.
With these people being 'stateless' it was a gesture of humanity from such a small country to take in people/children and whom NZ continues to do so.
More stories like this please and an update - is this on the cards....

Very moving and fabulous to be able to access these archives.