Executive Board
Nina Tomaszyk
President
Born in New Zealand to 2 Polish parents, I speak Polish and English, love the Polish and Kiwi food, and have followed both Kiwi and Polish traditions.
My mother, Krystyna Tomaszyk, was one of the Polish Children of Pahiatua and one of the lucky ones, ending up with both parents, Stanisław and Krystyna Skwarko, and her brother, Stan Skwarko, living in New Zealand.
My father, Czesław Tomaszyk, was born in western Poland. After the war, he had the chance to study in France and once finished his chemistry and physics degree, he decided to head to New Zealand… a place of hunting and fishing.
Apart from some years overseas, I have lived mostly in Auckland; married; have two children: Ariana, who returned recently from Hong Kong, and Ethan, who is currently in Europe… hoping to work soon in Poland.
I currently run Kate Edger Foundation, a non-profit that empowers women by funding scholarships.
I do still speak and write in Polish, but I’m rusty, something I still hope to improve through my involvement at the Auckland Polish Association.
Overall, we have an incredible richness of our Polish background and I hope moving forward, the APA executive committee team and the Polish community can contribute, as someone said, to building and ‘Celebrating Everything Polish.
Ania Biazik
Vice President,
(Fundraising)
With degrees in Political Science and Linguistics from Silesian University, I arrived in Auckland in December 2004 and settled in Titirangi. My volunteer work provided an opportunity to immerse myself in New Zealand, Pacifica, and Māori cultures, as well as to improve my English language skills.
I was actively involved with the Polish Heritage Trust Museum, promoting Polish culture, and I volunteered at Auckland Museum, which enhanced my understanding of South Pacific history.
My professional career in public libraries across Auckland and beyond has allowed me to support literacy and lifelong learning initiatives.
Additionally, I have been promoting Polish culture at the Polish House by sharing my passion for cheesemaking. Quark/twaróg has become a popular feature, delighting many visitors.
As a member of the APA executive committee, I aim to focus on fundraising and grant applications. I am very grateful for the support I have received over the years and I look forward to giving back to the community.
Antoni Jozef Rajwer
(Treasurer)
My name is Antoni Jozef Rajwer, 2nd eldest of 8 siblings, mother and father children of Pahiatua. Brothers and sisters in Queensland, New York and NZ.
I was a regular attendee of Polish School from young age, involved in literature, culture, dance and Polish mass, then at St Pauls in Richmond.
Mother and Father sadly passed, 1 year and 5 years ago respectively.
Self employed consulting engineer, living and working from a rural lifestyle block with wife Lisa, 6 llamas, 2 dogs and a cat.
3 adult children, Sara, Nicole and Ben, and son-in-law James, with 2 grandchildren Ollie (10 months) and Tilly (3 years).
Looking forward to giving back to the Auckland Polish community some of the joy, fun and cultural experiences I was able to have as a child.
Kelly Mills
(Communications, Newsletter)
My name is Kelly Mills and I have been on the executive committee since 2000. I am very excited to be elected again to continue standing on this awesome committee. I currently write the newsletter for Polish house. I am the main organiser for the Polish Children of Pahiatua events. I have just been selected to be the secretary for Polish house. I am married and live with my husband in Glen Eden Auckland. I have a degree in education, and have a career as a Primary school teacher.
I have worked at the Polish Heritage Trust Museum in Howick, Auckland, which gave me an even greater understanding of the Pahiatua story and, of course, Poland itself.
My nana, Anna Aitken née Zazulak and her family are part of the Pahiatua story, which is how I became involved in the Polish association.
My interests are being a diehard supporter of the Warriors (National Rugby League) and working alongside the union movement.
I am up to the challenge of working on the executive committee and look forward to meeting awesome people along the way.
Piotr Dzik
(Events, Membership,
Website)
I was born in Wrocław in 1978, but I spent most of my adult life before moving to New Zealand in Warsaw — a place my family and I are deeply connected to. My grandparents were participants in the 1944 Warsaw Uprising.
I hold a Master of Science degree in Food Technology and Engineering from the Warsaw University of Life Sciences and a postgraduate diploma in Project Management from the Warsaw School of Economics.
For over 20 years, I have worked for a global engineering company supplying technology to food and dairy manufacturers around the world. I came to New Zealand in 2009 for a short contract to assist the local engineering team and… stayed for good. Over the years, I have travelled extensively across New Zealand for both work and pleasure.
I joined APA in 2025, motivated to encourage more people to stay connected with the Polish community and to support APA as a thriving and socially dynamic place. I live locally in Mount Roskill.
Lidia Konarski
My name is Lidia and I am 37 years old, born in New Zealand with Polish decent.
My hobbies include group classes at the gym, boxing, yoga/pilates, swimming and plants.
My mother is Helena Konarski who is the bar manager and maintenance organizer for the Polski Dom.
My Dziadzia Tadeusz Pak was a passionate member of the Polski Dom who was one of the original founders along with the rest of the Pak family whose hearts will always be here.
I grew up coming to the Polski Dom regularly for different events and helped where I could.
My Babcia Valeria Pak nee Banasiak was a Pahiatua child arriving in New Zealand at 12 years old from Poland in WW2.
I endeavour to carry on the legacy my grandparents left by keeping the Polski Dom spirit alive for the next generations to come.