New Zealand–Poland relations

New Zealand–Poland relations

New Zealand
Poland

New Zealand–Poland relations are the bilateral relations between New Zealand and Poland. Both nations are members of the Australia Group, and the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development.

History

Early contact and migration

The first two subjects of Poland to arrive to New Zealand accompanied Captain James Cook on his second voyage to the Pacific in 1772.[1] Throughout the 19th century, few Polish migrants began settling in New Zealand escaping foreign occupation, with its consequences, of their partitioned country. Many of these early pioneers worked in occupations requiring little English, felling bush, draining swamps and building tracks. Eventually acquiring their own land, they turned to farming.[1]

Indirect relations and refugee resettlement

In 1918, Poland regained independence, and in the 1930s, diplomatic relations between New Zealand and Poland were conducted via-London when New Zealand was a Dominion. Poland maintained a consulate in Wellington.[2]

New Zealand declared war on Germany on 3 September 1939, the third day of the German invasion of Poland, which started World War II,[3] and was one of the first countries to do so. New Zealand soldiers fought alongside their Polish counterparts during the Battle of Britain and the Battle of Monte Cassino in Italy. New Zealand prisoners of war were among Allied POWs held in German POW camps operated in German-occupied Poland.[4]

In 1944, over 730 Polish children (mainly orphans) and 105 adults were settled in New Zealand.[4] The refugees had survived deportation from Soviet-occupied eastern Poland to the Soviet Union, including Siberia, and escaped to New Zealand via Persia (today known as Iran) and settled in the town of Pahiatua on the North Island of New Zealand.[5] New Zealand was the most distant place from Poland in which Polish refugees ended up during World War II.[4] The refugee camp for Polish children in Pahiatua existed until 1949, and it had a Polish elementary school (until 1949) and a secondary school (until 1946).[4] At the end of the war, more than 200 former soldiers and 700 displaced people from Poland were resettled to New Zealand.[6]

Formal relations, 1973–present

On 1 March 1973 New Zealand and Poland formally established diplomatic relations.[7] Initially, relations between the two nations were limited during the Cold War. In 2004, Poland joined the European Union and opened an embassy in Wellington.[2]

In April 2005, New Zealand Prime Minister Helen Clark paid an official visit to Poland and opened the New Zealand embassy in Warsaw. She is the only Prime Minister of New Zealand to visit the country.[8] In May 2008, a Working holiday visa scheme agreement was signed between both nations.[9]

In March 2013, both nations celebrated 40 years of diplomatic relations.[10] Polish Foreign Minister Radosław Sikorski paid a visit to New Zealand to commemorate the establishment of diplomatic relations.

In early September 2025, New Zealand Defence Minister Judith Collins visited Poland as part of a tour of Europe to strengthen New Zealand's defence and security relations with its European partners. In Warsaw, she met several senior Polish officials including Deputy Foreign Minister Władysław Teofil Bartoszewski and Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of National Defence Władysław Kosiniak-Kamysz. Collins also laid a wreath at the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier.[11]

Trade

In 2018, total trade between both nations amounted to US$270 million.[12][13] New Zealand's main exports to Poland include: fish fillets, wool, iron and steel structures and their parts. Poland's main exports to New Zealand include: trucks and vans, harvesting machinery, telephones and mobile phones.[13] In April 2005, a double taxation agreement was signed between both nations.[9]

In July 2023, New Zealand signed a free trade agreement with the European Union. As a European Union member state, Poland became a party to the NZ-EU free trade agreement.[13]

Resident diplomatic missions

  • Embassy of New Zealand in Warsaw
  • Embassy of Poland in Wellington

See also

References

  1. ^ a b Sawicka, Theresa (1 July 2024). "Poles – The first arrivals". Te Ara - the Encyclopedia of New Zealand. Ministry for Culture and Heritage. Archived from the original on 8 December 2024. Retrieved 6 September 2025.
  2. ^ a b "Political cooperation". Embassy of Poland in Wellington. 2012. Archived from the original on 22 April 2018. Retrieved 6 September 2025.
  3. ^ "New Zealand declares war on Germany". NZHistory. Ministry for Culture and Heritage. 9 July 2020. Archived from the original on 15 April 2017. Retrieved 11 March 2023.
  4. ^ a b c d Ney-Krwawicz, Marek (2011). "Tułacze dzieci i ich szkoły 1939-1948". Niepodległość i Pamięć (in Polish) (18/2 (34)). Muzeum Niepodległości w Warszawie: 98. ISSN 1427-1443.
  5. ^ "Polish refugees land in New Zealand". NZHistory. Ministry for Culture and Heritage. 9 September 2020. Retrieved 6 September 2025.
  6. ^ Sawicka, Theresa (1 July 2024). "Poles – 20th-century arrivals". Te Ara - the Encyclopedia of New Zealand. Ministry for Culture and Heritage. Archived from the original on 13 June 2024. Retrieved 6 September 2025.
  7. ^ "Bilateral Cooperation". Embassy of Poland in Wellington.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: url-status (link)
  8. ^ Clark, Helen (22 April 2005). "Address at state luncheon in Poland" (Press release). New Zealand Government. Archived from the original on 6 May 2021. Retrieved 6 September 2025.
  9. ^ a b "Bilateral agreements". Embassy of Poland in Welllington. Archived from the original on 14 June 2016. Retrieved 6 September 2025.
  10. ^ Celebrations of the 40th anniversary of Poland - New Zealand relations officially began
  11. ^ Smith, Anneke (4 September 2025). "Judith Collins visit gives Ukraine 'enormous strength'". RNZ. Archived from the original on 4 September 2025. Retrieved 6 September 2025.
  12. ^ "Poland". Observatory of Economic Complexity. Archived from the original on 6 August 2025. Retrieved 6 September 2025.
  13. ^ a b c "Poland". New Zealand Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Relations. Archived from the original on 13 August 2025. Retrieved 6 September 2025.
  14. ^ "New Zealand Embassy to Poland". New Zealand Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Relations. Retrieved 6 September 2025.
  15. ^ "Poland in New Zealand". gov.pl. Polish Government. Retrieved 6 September 2025.
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