EXPERIENCES OF KCSP INTERNS IN WELLINGTON

We travelled to Wellington to commemorate the 1848 Revolution and War of Independence in a dignified way, albeit a little later. The event was not only about remembrance, but also included the placement of two commemorative stones in the Hungarian Millennium Park. Our plane departed early Friday morning, so we arrived in the capital by 9 a.m. Klára Szentirmay, former Honorary Consul, enthusiastically guided us through Wellington’s main attractions before we arrived at the Hungarian Millennium Park.

Before the trip, we didn’t know what to expect — it was hard to imagine what such a Hungarian memorial site might look like in a place so far from our homeland. The Hungarian Millennium Project was launched in 1998 by Klári’s father, Pál Szentirmay (1928–2002), New Zealand’s first Honorary Consul; the park was finally inaugurated on August 20, 2003. The large Székely gate, the memorial benches, and the kopjafa in the centre all sent the same message: the Hungarian spirit is present here, too. It was wonderful to see that even in perhaps the most distant capital from our homeland, there exists a place that preserves Hungarian identity and culture.

After checking into our accommodation, we still had time to explore the city. We climbed the 643-metre-high Mount Victoria, which offers a 360-degree view of the city. Our journey then led us to the Te Papa Museum, and we ended the day by attending a local rugby match.

On Saturday, the day of the celebration, many Hungarians gathered in the Hungarian Millennium Park, where Klára gave a speech, Archbishop Gábor Pintér, the Apostolic Nuncio accredited to New Zealand by the Vatican, said a prayer, and Áron recited Gyula Juhász’s poem Március idusára. The ceremony also included the inauguration of two new commemorative bricks for the community.

After the commemoration, we visited a venue called Anzil, which used to operate as a Hungarian restaurant. Áron, as host, coordinated the programme. We also held a fun quiz where participants could test their knowledge of Hungary. Some questions proved to be tricky, but when it came time to guess the name "Malév," everyone shouted the correct answer together.

The day ended with a fantastic dance house led by Fanni, where both children and adults joined in the fun.

On Sunday, we had the opportunity to explore the Wellington area. Members of the local community, Györgyi Bushnell and her husband, generously accompanied us on the excursion. We completed the 7.4 km Red Rocks coastal walk in strong winds, hoping to see some seals. We had almost given up — it’s not seal season yet — but luckily, two seals appeared, basking on the rocks.

Later, Györgyi invited us to their home for dinner, where a garden barbecue kicked off the evening: there was steak, pork loin, roasted corn — and of course, karaoke couldn’t be missed. Songs by Miklós Fenyő, Quimby and Republic played loudly. The weekend, already perfect, couldn’t have ended on a better note. We hope we’ll have the chance to return!

Fanni Csényi and Áron Darvasi, KCSP interns