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| Memorial to Italian Internees on Somes/Matiu Island in WWII photo by Judith Murphy |
Kia ora,
My name is Flavia Flamini and I am an Italian researcher based in Wellington. I have been awarded a History Grant by Manatū Taonga – Ministry for Culture and Heritage to write a book documenting the human and social experiences of Italian civilian internees and their families in New Zealand during and immediately after World War II.
To date, I have been able to identify 40 Italian men interned between 1940 and 1942 under the Aliens Control Emergency Regulations 1939. I am currently conducting my archival research at Archives New Zealand, where a great deal of material has recently become accessible, given that 100 years have passed since most of the internees' dates of birth.
To corroborate my research, I am looking to connect with descendants, relatives, or anyone who might have information, letters, or memories related to ANY of the Italian internees. While I welcome stories from all over New Zealand, I am currently seeking specific leads regarding a few men connected to the Auckland region.
- I am keen to connect with the descendants or relatives of Paul Casa to learn more about his experience, especially given his prominent role as the camp foreman.
- I am also searching for information regarding Celso De Podesta (likely originally spelled "De Podestà") and Amerigo Tavan; both were living in Auckland and working as terrazzo layers when they were arrested on the exact same day, 29 August 1940.
- Furthermore, I have recently uncovered the internment and release papers for an Italian man named Reno Saverio Massetti, who was interned on 30 September 1942. His name is missing from the official memorial on Matiu/Somes Island.
- Alongside the stories of the internees, I am also interested in exploring the unique history of Italian-Māori families during the war years. Were these families subject to "Enemy Alien" restrictions, or were they exempt? What were the feelings towards Italy while the 28th Māori Battalion was fighting bravely on the Italian front?
If your family has any oral histories, photographs, diaries or letters from this era, I would be deeply privileged to learn about them. Every small detail might be incredibly helpful.
Please feel free to reach out to me at flaviaflamini1@gmail.com.
Grazie mille to the Società Dante Alighieri Auckland and to all of you for helping to preserve this precious shared heritage!
Flavia
