Kia Ora, Kalos ilthate, Welcome!
This website is for all New Zealanders and friends of New Zealand living in Greece.
The name Griwis was coined by Griwi Robyn Christou who was living in Greece at the time but is now back in NZ, and we liked it so much we kept it!
As a result of the closure of the New Zealand Embassy in Athens in 1991, and our petition protesting this, we set up The Hellenic New Zealand Association in 1995 and have been active in Greece since then.
and,if you're voting, make sure you don't mention the weather, because under the 1993 Electoral Act, "statements such as `weather looks a bit bleak,
turnout quiet at this polling place' would be prohibited as such a statement
could be construed as discouraging people from voting"...
"Εισαστε ήρωες μιας πολύ σημαντικής μάχης για την Ευρώπη και για όλο τον κόσμο. "Αντισταθήκατε σε μέρες που ο ναζισμός φαινόταν ανίκητος.
Και αντιμετώπισε το δικό σας σθένος, τη δικιά σας θέληση για την ελευθερία.
Και υπέστη ο Χίτλερ τη μεγαλύτερη ήττα και έχασε ένα από τα πλέον επίλεκτα σώματά του, τους αλεξιπτωτιστές.
Και αυτό είχε άμεσες συνέπειες στα αμέσως επόμενα σχέδιά του, όπως ήταν η δι’ αέρος κατάληψη της Μεγάλης Βρετανίας.
Ήρθατε από πολύ μακριά, από τη Νέα Ζηλανδία.
Και χύσατε το αίμα σας στην Ελλάδα".
Οι δυο λαοί μας συνδέονται με δεσμούς αίματος.
Και δεν υπάρχει πιο δυνατός δεσμός.
Σας ευχαριστούμε και σας ευγνωμονούμε γι’αυτή τη μεγάλη θυσία.
Είμαι εξαιρετικά συγκινημένος που σας συναντώ σήμερα. Αλλά ήταν και μεγάλη μου τιμή και μεγάλη μου χαρά να σας σφίξω το χέρι.
Ήσασταν νέα παιδιά όταν αντιμετωπίσατε τον χιτλερισμό. Και δεν πτοηθήκατε.
Και έχουμε και κάτι άλλο προσωπικά κοινό μαζί: και εγώ 15 χρόνων βγήκα στα βουνά της πατρίδας μου και πολέμησα τον χιτλερισμό.
Σας ευχαριστώ.
"You are heroes of a very significant battle for Europe and for the whole world. You resisted at a time when Nazism seemed invincible. But it encountered your determination and courage, your thirst for freedom. And Hitler suffered one of his greatest losses, his elite parachutists. That of course impacted on his immediate plans for the aerial invasion and control of Great Britain. You came from faraway, from New Zealand and you shed your blood in Greece. Our two peoples are united with bonds of blood and there is no greater bond. We are grateful and thank you for this great sacrifice.
I am extremely moved that I am meeting you today. But it is also a great honour and a pleasure for me to shake hands with you all. You were young men when you came face to face with Hitlerism. You didn't cower. We also have something else in common, I too fought as a 15 year old against Hitlerism in the mountains of my homeland
I thank you"
With these emotionally charged words, the President of the Hellenic Republic, His Excellency Mr Karolos Papoulias, to the Presidential Mansion in Athens. In a simple but warm and emotional ceremony by Greece's Head of State , the New Zealand Battle of Crete Veterans were welcomed as heroes, showing them how truly appreciative the Hellenic people are of the sacrifices they made during those days in May 1941...
The surviving Battle of Crete Veterans continue to be so greatly committed and motivated as to undertake such a long journey, despite their advanced age (they are all now into their 90s) and any health problems they may face. A living testament of the friendship between Greece and New Zealand are truly inspiring and an honour for all of us.
The delegation of New Zealand veterans of the Battle of Crete and families, The Enduring Legacy Group, was led by the former Mayor of Wellington, Kerry Prendergast, who despite her recent personal tragedy put on a tremendous effort. The group arrived in Greece on the 16th May 2011 for the 70th Anniversary celebrations of that epic battle and their first appointment was with the President of Greece.
Our honourable veterans Bill Bristow, Brant Robinson, Roye Hammond, Jim Wilson and Bain McKay, along with Kerry Prendergast, Angelo Papageorgiou, a recipient of Greece's Order of the Phoenix and a Greek Community representative on the Organising Committee, Robin Klitscher, immediate Past President of the RSA and Robin Lloyd whose uncle fought in Crete, and myself made up the small party that was received by the President of the Hellenic Republic.
President Papoulias welcomes the veterans, Photo Source: ANA-MPA
In a private meeting with the delegation, President Papoulias listened carefully to the personal stories of each of the veterans and, visibly moved, recounted his own experiences as a young lad in the resistance.
President Papoulias then presented each Veteran with a gift, a symbolic gesture of gratitude from the people of Greece to these largely unsung heroes, who came from the other side of the world to fight for humanity and peace.
The photos below are my photos from the reception at the Presidential Mansion
Waiting for President Papoulias to arrive
Sophia Economou-Nikiforakis, Bain McKay, Robin Loyd,Jim Wilson, Angelo Papageorgiou, Bill Bristow, Brant Robinson, Roye Hammond, Kerry Prendergast
Sophia Economou-Nikiforakis, Bain McKay, Robin Loyd,Jim Wilson, Angelo Papageorgiou, Bill Bristow, Brant Robinson, Roye Hammond, Kerry Prendergast, Robin Klitscher
President Papoulias welcomes former Wellington Mayor, Kerry Prendergast
President Papoulias welcomes RSA Past President Robin Klitscher
President Papoulias welcomes veteran Roye Hammond
President Papoulias welcomes veterans Brant Robinson and Bill Bristow
President Papoulias welcomes veteran Jim Wilson Bain McKay
President Papoulias welcomes veteran Bain McKay with Angelo Papageorgiou and myself looking on
Elegant majesty and classic grecian architecture combined
- the impressive entrance of the Presidential Mansion
The delegation in the lobby of the wonderful Neoclassical building which used to be the Royal Palace.
We couldn't resist the temptation to take souvenir photos in this magnificent setting
Veterans Bain Mc Kay, Roye Hammond and Jim Wilson in front of
two members of the elite Presidential Guard, one dressed in the traditional Cretan uniform specifically for this occasion, the other in the standard Evzon uniform
The veterans rest before our departure from the Presidential Mansion, as the two members of the elite Presidential Guard stand by along with Ambassador Dafaranos
An Evzon , one of the members of the elite Presidential guard, on duty in his ceremonial uniform, part of which is the traditional foustanella. Made with 400 pleats, one for each year of slavery during Ottoman occupation of Greece
The entrance to the Presidential Mansion
A well deserved salute for Veteran Bill Bristow by one of the elite Presidential Guard Evzons as he exits the Presidential Mansion under the watchful eye of Kerry Prendergast and Robin Klitscher
A final pause for Robin, Angelo, Kerry and myself on the steps of the Presidential Mansion shortly before our departure
As President of the Hellenic New Zealand Association, I was immensely pleased to have been able to organise this very significant meeting with the President and honoured to be part of such a historic event. We are grateful to the staff at the Presidency and especially Ambassador Dafaranos, who are to be commended for their cooperation and invaluable assistance.
In the evening of the same day we also organised a cocktail dinner in honour of the delegation at their hotel.
It was an honour and a privilege for the members of the New Zealand community in Athens and indeed all those present, to be with the veterans and the families of veterans as well as the other members of the Enduring Legacy Group before they set off for Crete and the celebrations there.
Whilst the Greek Deputy Foreign Minister, Mr Demetris Dollis was also hoping to attend the function, he was unable to do so. Instead he sent the following message which I read out to the veterans and the rest of the delegation during the dinner.
Message of the Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs on the occasion of the New Zealand Veterans’ Delegation to Greece for the 70th anniversary celebrations of the Battle of Crete
The Battle of Crete, whose 70th anniversary is celebrated this year, marks an important moment in the Second World War, symbolically and strategically. Fighting against a superior number of Nazi elite troops, the heroic combatants of the united allied forces together with the civilian population of Crete fought for the values of freedom, dignity and democracy and sacrificed their lives defending their love for independence against the threat of a tyranny.
According to many historians, the Battle of Crete altered the course of the Second World War, since the Nazi troops, apart from their great losses in the battlefield, slowed down their planning to expand the theater of war to the Soviet Union, initially scheduled to take place in a favorable, climatologically, season.
Honoring the memory of the heroic defendants of the island we also honor our Australian and New Zealand allies, with whom the Greek army and civilian population fought side by side. The loss of the New Zealanders, Australians and Greeks defending their ideals, forms an inextricable bond uniting past, current and future generations of our countries.
Our common history, not only in Crete, but also in other fronts of the two World Wars will always remind to us and to our children that the sacrifice of one’s life for a great cause is the most noble act of all, the one that creates history, elevates human nature and leaves a precious legacy to future generations.
Demetri Dollis
Welcome Speech on the occasion of the function held in honour of the NZ WWII Veterans visit for the Battle of Crete at the Hotel Parthenon, Athens, Greece Athens 16 May 2011
Dear Veterans, Kerry, Costa members of the Enduring Legacy Group and friends,
Kia Ora! Kalos Ilthate! Welcome!
Today has been an incredible day. Earlier today I was honoured to be part of a small group of people received by the President of the Hellenic Republic, Mr Karolos Papoulias - a very memorable and moving meeting with the veterans, Kerry, Angelo, Robin and Robyn. On behalf of the New Zealanders living in Greece, or Griwis as we call ourselves, it is once again an honour, and a privilege, to welcome you to Greece, a land that cradles in its arms so many New Zealand servicemen who came to the other side of the world and fell in the course of duty.
We welcome you to Athens, the first stop of your pilgrimage, on your way to Crete, to take part in the celebrations marking the 70th anniversary of the epic Battle for Crete. The strong spirit of friendship, which exists between the Hellenic and New Zealand people, was forged and strengthened by the devastating experiences shared by them during those historic days in May of 1941! The Battle of Crete is the next most significant event in New Zealand history after Gallipoli.
The bonds forged on that battlefield still hold strong today. They continue to be built upon in the day-to-day intermingling of the two peoples and remain unique in a world of increasingly materialistic values and objectives.
Your pilgrimage is evidence of this. Some of you, are yourselves, revered veterans of this battle; some of you are family members, representing, and honouring, those who are no longer with us, or who are unable to undertake this long trip; Whichever is the case, you are all here on a spiritual journey, to relive and trace those very significant moments in your personal family history, a personal history, which left its mark on world history itself.
It is no secret that the delay experienced by the German forces as they fought harder and longer than anticipated to take control of Crete and Greece, was instrumental in delaying the campaign, ultimately affecting the possible outcome of the War.
Many of us here today have relatives who gave unstintingly, offering whatever they could - food, shelter, protection, nursing care for the wounded, or guidance over the Cretan mountains to eventual freedom. They knew that what they were doing was extremely dangerous but deliberately ignored the cost of their actions, forever grateful to soldiers who had come to the other side of the world to fight with them.
My own father-in-law is one of those valiant Cretans who helped a New Zealand soldier escape over those mountains, hopefully to safety. Both he and my mother-in-law, 8 months pregnant at the time, considered it an honour until their final days to have helped him, even though they don’t know if he made it.
There are others here who have a similar tale; maybe you can help.
We welcome you all to Greece for the 70th Anniversary of the Battle of Crete, and thank you from the bottom of our hearts for the sacrifices you, your forbears, and fellow soldiers made, so that we, and all the future generations, could live in a free, democratic and peaceful world.
Welcome!
Sophia Economou-Nikiforakis President Hellenic New Zealand Association
The gift given to each of the Veterans by President Papoulias
Veteran Malcolm Coughlan and Kerry Prendergast
Veteran Brant Robinson with Sophia and Kerry Prendergast
New Zealand's Honorary Consul-General in Greece, Mr Costas Cotsilinis also welcomed the veterans and advised them of the procedures to be followed once they were in Crete.
On Wednesday 18 December, the Enduring Legacy Group along with the other NZ Veterans group from New Zealand laid wreaths at the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier in front of the Hellenic Parliament in Syntagma Square.
This was followed by a second wreath-laying ceremony at the Commonwealth Cemetery in Alimos.
In the video shown below, Battle of Crete Veteran Roye Hammond shares some of his memories with us just before the Enduring Legacy Group set off from New Zealand for the 70th Anniversary celebrations in Greece.
Stories
You may like to read the story of Ned and Katina, which is the real life love story of Ned Nathan, a wounded New Zealand soldier from the Maori Battalion who was cared for by a Cretan family, and Katina Torakis, the daughter of the family, who eventually married Ned and moved to New Zealand.
It has been beautifully documented by author Patricia Grace and makes wonderful reading for those who would like to read about this period of time.
Greek Foreign Minister Dimitris Droutsas receives NZ Foreign Minister Murray McCully
in Athens today
Source: Athens News
Greek Foreign Minister Dimitris Droutsas received New Zealand Foreign Minister Murray McCully in Athens on Wednesday, discussing the situation in theMediterranean and issues of bilateral political and economic cooperation. The visit is taking place ahead of celebrations marking the 60th anniversary since the Battle of Crete in May 1941.
After the meeting, the two ministers emphasised the significance of the Battle of Crete where Greeks and New Zealanders fought side by side in WWII, winning a victory that is widely regarded as decisive for the final outcome of the world war.
New Zealand Defence Minister Wayne Mapp will also be visiting the island of Crete in the next few days to attend celebrations for the anniversary.
In statements after the meeting, Droutsas again condemned the violent tactics of Syrian authorities to quell demonstrations in Syria, insisting that reforms were the only solution. Commenting on developments in the Arab world, he underlined that violence was not a solution and that only the search of a political solution was viable in the long term.
The Greek minister also briefed his counterpart on Athens' efforts to ensure the accession of the western Balkans to the European Union and to find a solution in the name dispute with the Former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia.
McCully noted that New Zealand was distant geographically but very close to Europe in terms of the European values of democracy, the rule of law and human rights. He described his talks in Athens as very constructive.
Droutsas underlined that the economic reforms currently taking place in Greece will make it a very attractive prospect for foreign investors and he emphasised the country's potential as a gateway for investors to southeast Europe and as a tourist destination.
McCully also had talks with Deputy Foreign Minister Spyros Kouvelis on Tuesday on bilateral economic relations, with emphasis on energy issues and especially renewable energy sources. Other topics discussed were developmental cooperation and humanitarian aid to Afghanistan. (ANA)
They shall grow not old....as we that are left grow old
Age shall not weary them, nor the years condemn
At the going down of the sun, and in the morning,
We will remember them,We will remember them...
Australia New Zealand Army Corps
Lest we forget....
The Australian Embassy has invited New Zealanders and Australians and friends of both countries to attend the ANZAC Day Commemorative Celebrations
on
Easter Monday 25 April 2011, 11.00 a.m.
at
The Commonwealth War Cemetery
in
Alimos
(Posidonos Avenue and Ethnarhou Makariou Street)
Let's all be there, as we are every year, to honour the memory of those valiant young men whocame to the other side of the world to fight , not just inWorld War I but in World War II as well, so that we could be free.
Kali Anastasi - Happy Easter to all our friends!
Hellenic New Zealand Association,
Athens, Greece
ANZAC Day Anzac Day marks the anniversary of the first major military action fought by Australian and New Zealand forces during the First World War, and is held every year on April 25th.
The Gallipoli campaign
In 1915, Australian and New Zealand soldiers formed part of an Allied expedition that set out to capture the Gallipoli Peninsula, under a plan to open the way to the Black Sea for the Allies. The objective was to capture Istanbul, the capital of the Ottoman Empire and an ally of Germany The ANZAC force landed at Gallipoli on 25 April, meeting fierce resistance from the Turkish Army commanded by Ataturk. What had been planned as a bold strike to knock Turkey out of the war quickly became a stale-mate, and the campaign dragged on for eight months. At the end of 1915, the Allied forces were evacuated after both sides had suffered heavy casualties and endured great hardships. Over 8,000 Australian and 2,700 New Zealand soldiers died. News of the landing at Gallipoli made a profound impact on Australians and New Zealanders at home and 25 April quickly became the day on which they remembered the sacrifice of those who had died in war.
Though the Gallipoli campaign failed in its military objectives of capturing Istanbul and knocking Turkey out of the war, the Australian and New Zealand troops' actions during the campaign bequeathed an intangible but powerful legacy. The creation of what became known as an ANZAC Legend became an important part of the national identity in both countries, shaping the ways their citizens viewed both their past and their future.
People gather in Wellington's Parliament Gardens for the 2 minute vigil
Much of New Zealand came to a standstill this afternoon to remember the victims of last week's Christchurch earthquake. The two minutes silence was observed at 12.51pm, exactly a week since the 6.3 magnitude quake struck the city, killing many people.
In Christchurch, Prime Minister John Key and his wife Bronagh joined Christchurch mayor Bob Parker at the Arts Centre to mark the two minutes' silence.
The service at parliament was attended by the Governor-General Sir Anand Satyanand and Lady Satyanand, Deputy Prime Minister Bill English, church and faith representatives, parliamentarians and members of the Diplomatic Corps...
Heartening to see that many New Zealanders living abroad along with friends of New Zealand also kept the 2 minute silence...
The video below, is a montage of photos from the earthquake set to the National Anthem - powerful, devastating, heartbreaking and particularly moving but at the same time full of strength, solidarity and determination to survive... a real tribute to the Kiwi psyche!
The death toll from the devastating Christchurch earthquake has risen to 98 with police holding grave concerns for 226 people...
Prime Minister John Key warned the nation to prepare itself for the worst. "We are very fearful tonight that the death toll could be much greater than any of us ever feared," he said.
He also said it could be weeks before families had their loved ones' bodies returned. read more
The video below from TVNZ allows us to share just some of the agony and the horror of what the people of Christchurch lived through and what our fellow NZers are continuing to live through as the search and recovery process continues and the death toll rises ... With other cities around NZ being continuously under threat of an impending major earthquake, and Wellington in particular which has been expecting a 'biggie' for as long as I can remember and where we were drilled from the Primers as to how to react, I am sure that these scenes simply confirm our worst expectations...
I have been unlucky enough to be in both major earthquakes in Athens, the first in February of 1981 and the second in 1999, and my reactions were almost automatic- the earthquake drills we had from our early childhood days in Wellington proving once more how important prevention training is...
Reminder:
Don't forget Google's Person Finder for those looking for missing persons, or for those who have information about someone missing...
Contact number to ask about missing persons 00 64 7 8502199
Our thoughts and prayers are with those who have lost their loved ones or await news of missing persons... we hope for the best for them.
We understand that as far as members of the Greek Community in Christchurch are concerned, all seem to be well and accounted for so far...
You may also like to read a first hand report of the events from Artanis - the wife of the Greek School teacher in Christchurch who writes a blog on her family's life in Christchurch.
She starts off her latest post like this:
5 μήνες μετά τον σεισμό του Σεπτεμβρίου, την Τρίτη 22/2 είχαμε όπως μάθατε κι εσείς, μια νέα δόνηση, μεγέθους 6,3 ρίχτερ, που χτύπησε στις 12.51 το μεσημέρι...Οι ζημιές είναι τεράστιες, υπάρχουν μέχρι στιγμής 75 νεκροί, και εκατοντάδες αγνοούμενοι, το ιστορικό κέντρο της πόλης, ισοπεδώθηκε: το καμπαναριό του καθεδρικού κατέρρευσε, το κτίριο της τηλεόρασης κατέρρευσε παγιδεύοντας δεκάδες, παλιά και νέα μοντέρνα κτίρια έπεσαν ή είναι ετοιμόρροπα, και μεγάλος μέρος της πόλης δεν έχει νερό και ηλεκτρικό, και για αποχέτευση ούτε λόγος...Read more
'It doesn't matter where you are in the world, you are always a kiwi at heart and hurt for your country in it's hour of need when tragedy strikes. We are a small country that has suffered devastating tragedies in the last few months. We love you New Zealand. You can take a kiwi out of the country but you can't take the kiwi out of our hearts'
Vera Zivadinovic Georgiou - one of our Griwis living in Australia
We all listened to the news in disbelief as we struggled to come to grips with the tragic news we all woke up to in Athens this morning ...
Christchurch, one of the loveliest of New Zealand's cities had had a major earthquake - 6.3 on the Richter scale, smaller than September's but much more destructive as it took place at 1 in the afternoon with a lot of people around... 65 people confirmed dead and a worst case scenario of possibly up to 400 human lives - a tragedy for our people and for New Zealand, one of New Zealand's darkest days.
As the day breaks in New Zealand and the search and rescue teams resume their task, our thoughts and prayers, wherever in the world we may be, go out to our fellow Kiwis - to those who have lost their loved ones, to all those waiting to be rescued and to those who are living with the agony of uncertainty...
KIA KAHA AOTEAROA - NEW ZEALAND BE STRONG - ΝΕΑ ΖΗΛΑΝΔΙΑ ΚΡΑΤΑ ΓΕΡΑ
Latest Update:
55 identified bodies, at least another 20 confirmed deaths. At least 300 people missing, says Christchurch Mayor Bob Parker
USEFUL INFORMATION:
For all those who would like to get futher information on the Christchurch Earthquake
For those of us outside New Zealand the only help we can really offer is financial assistance. As an association we will endeavour to raise funds for our fellow New Zealanders in need. For those who would like to make a donation directly you can do so on line via
Please note that if you have any information you would like us to post, or that you would like to share with us, please leave a note in the visitor's book on the sidebar or email us at
New Zealand - Hellenic Bilateral Relations : Visits by NZ and Greek Dignitaries
March 1995 - First Trade Delegation to New Zealand headed by Deputy Minister of National Economy, Mr Ioannis Anthopoulos May 2001 - NZ Prime Minister, the Rt. Hon Helen Clark visits Greece to take part in 60th Anniversary Battle of Crete celebrations
June 2002 - President of the Hellenic Republic, Mr Kostis Stephanopoulos makes historic first visit by Greek Head of State to NZ (Report )
ONE TEAM ONE SPIRIT- the New Zealand Team at the Athens 2004 Games wins Award
The New Zealand Olympic Committee has won the International Olympic Museum’s Award for Olympic Spirit for the documentary ONE TEAM ONE SPIRIT - the amazing story of the New Zealand Team at the Olympic Games in Athens in 2004. This is the story of Olympism in action, the story of a team committed to creating an environment that empowered and supported one another, that was enjoyable to be part of and that gave meaning to what it is to be a New Zealander. more...(NZOC)
This column is for those who have recently left us....
Pella Pinatsi Pella, a much valued member of our Hellenic New Zealand Association Committee, and a very special friend, left us prematurely on 27 May 2008, after a short illness. Always cheerful, always willing to share her ideas and thoughts with everyone, Pella will be sorely missed. Our deepest sympathy to her family, both in Greece and in New Zealand.
Bruce (Zisi) shocked us all when he left us suddenly on 26 June 2008 doing something he loved dearly - playing golf in Wellington! A very active member, and former President, of the Greek Community of Wellington, and a very dear friend of the Association, Bruce took on a number of challenges willingly and successfully. Honoured by the NZ Government for his services to the Community, as Chairman of the NZ Committee for the Return of the Parthenon Marbles to Greece, Bruce led the drive for a petition to the NZ Government and succeeded in getting a vote for the Marbles return passed by the NZ Parliament. (That was no mean achievement. When I mentioned the Return of the Parthenon Marbles to the PM during her Athens' visit in 2001, the response was guarded.) Our very sincere condolences to Bruce's family - we have lost a very good friend.
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