History
Before the Holocaust Center came to be, Hanka and George Pressburg (Wellington-based Holocaust survivors) first talked about the Holocaust to school groups. To support these talks they set up a small display; a yellow star, documents from the Theresienstadt concentration camp, currency used in the camp, food stamps, and some photos. In 2005, when the UN General Assembly adopted resolution to designate January 27 as International Holocaust Remembrance Day, a Holocaust Remembrance Day memorial service was first held at Beth El, the Wellington Jewish Community Center synagogue. The synagogue was packed. There were Jews and non-Jews present which highlighted the universality of the Holocaust.
Holocaust survivor Steven Sedley shoulder-tapped a few people who had Holocaust connections and formed a committee in 2005. Hanka and George Pressburg's display would be enhanced, with the addition of material from the community and other sources and the focus would be on a New Zealand perspective: New Zealanders involved in the liberation of the camps, eyewitness accounts, Righteous Gentiles living in New Zealand, immigrant stories – and exhibitions and educational programs relevant to contemporary New Zealand.
Since its establishment in 2007, the HCNZ has grown to become an active and internationally-recognised institution dedicated to combating racism, hatred, prejudice and discrimination by fostering tolerance and understanding within our community.
What We Do
HCNZ has an exhibition space, on-site educational programmes aligned with the New Zealand school curriculum, and education outreach. We develop curriculum resources for NZ educators to help them teach the
Holocaust and provide training for teachers and university students. We record, collect and share survivor testimonies, undertake research, teaching, publishing and advocacy.
Some of the HCNZ volunteers (Centre in black outfit is our Director, Inge Woolf QSO)