The XXVI World Kaszubian Convention held

in Szemud, Pomerania Region in Poland

held on Saturday 5 July 2025

Cecylia Klobukowska and Joanna Bramley represented POHOS during the XXVI World Kaszubian Convention held in Szemud in Northern Poland. The atmosphere and hospitality was wonderful and they enjoyed every moment of this memorable and colourful event. It was an occasion not only to celebrate Pomerania’s heritage and culture but also to promote the book written by Paul Klemick “Poles Down South. A story of the Early Polish Settlers in Otago & Southland, Aotearoa New Zealand” in Poland.  Joanna and Cecylia together with a very hard working committee consisting of Katarzyna Lange, Agnieszka Wukoder-Szymanik, Ewa Trzeciak and Katarzyna Machulska had a chance to meet the Marshal of the Pomerania Region, Mieczysław Struk, the Mayor of Szemud, Ryszard Kalkowski and the Deputy Mayor, Michalina Kamińska.

We would like to thank the Mayor of Szemud, Ryszard Kalkowski and Barbara Rzeszewicz, Aleksandra Perz, Wezel Beata and Iwona Piastowska from the Szemud Regional Council for their hospitality, help and commitment in organizing our display and supplying free of charge the POHOS Banners. We also appreciate support from the New Zealand Embassy in Warsaw. The Embassy’s logo was proudly displayed on the Banners.

An excellent article about POHOS and early Polish settlement in New Zealand written by Dr Joanna Bramley was published in the special edition of the “Forum Pomorskie“ Magazyn.