The morning sun streams through the windows of the quiet, empty hall of Meadowood Community House. Inside, beige linoleum floors lie vacant waiting to be used. Outside, a large field of lush green stretches off into the distance towards the highway. Just like the hall on this Sunday morning, the highway is quiet, but will soon be busy humming with traffic.
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Yes indeed, “we are blessed to be Armenians”! Thank you for the great article. Let the world know that We Armenians are the finger print of global civilization. We are a Global Nation for a good reason; to bring civilization, language, art, music across the globe.
Dear Tamara, thank for your beautiful recount of the small but very vibrant Armenian society that continues to preserve its rich culture and makes valuable contribution to New Zealand’s community on so many levels. Your photos depict the true emotions of ordinary people who brought their Armenian ‘home’ from far to build a new home in this amazing country called New Zealand.
Thank you Tamara jan for this comprehensive and inclusive article which had touched every part of the community activities. It is people like you who can show New Zealand and the world that we are few but are called Armenians. Well done . We wish you success in your future tasks.
A beautifully written and interesting article. Thank you Tamara.
Thanks Tamara. Great to know about the Armenian community in New Zealand
To add to Tamara’s article, readers might be interested in the following snippets.
Armenians first arrived in New Zealand during the Otago gold rushes in the 1850s.
Dame Sian Elias, who was appointed New Zealand’s first Chief Justice in 1999, was of Armenian ancestry.
Zohrab Street in Wellington is named after Constantine Zohrab, also of Armenian ancestry.
Such an invaluable piece of history. Thanks Nadia
Thank you, Nadia, for that posting.
I want to visit New Zealand and now I have an incentive to do so.
Thank you for this wonderful article Ms. Azizian.
1.1.2020
Tamar = thank you for your article (though incomplete)
1) Where in what city is located ‘Meadowood Comm. House’?
2) What city are most of the members of NZ armenian community?
3) while you list you live in Auckland, but the rest of armenians…?
another community destined to oblivion very soon
Hi, I have been in NZ for 20 years, originally from Uruguay but with Armenian Ascendants.
I have just found this group, I had no idea there were so many Armenians in NZ. I used to speak Armenian like my first language and now I cannot remember it, nor can I remember the alphabet. I think this group it is a great chance to re-candle my Armenian heritage.
Our one and only wonderful Tamara, thank you Tamara jan.