The Austrian Club was established in 1980 by a group of Austrians and their families to provide opportunities to meet fellow citizens, socialise, share ideas and support one another in New Zealand, their new homeland. At this time our Club has over 60 Members, both families and individuals, from a variety of backgrounds.

We are based in Auckland, known as the “City of Sails”, a beautiful, vibrant and culturally diverse city, situated in the North Island between two harbours, the Pacific Ocean and the Tasman Sea.

Keeping our cultural traditions alive and communicating in our mother tongue or English with like-minded people gives our members a real sense of belonging and future generations an insight into their Austrian heritage. We also engage with other European Clubs in Auckland on a regular basis.

To this day the dedicated Austrian Club Committee continuously arrange various functions and outdoor activities for the enjoyment of all. The Club’s popular events include a Heurigen, Gulasch Evening, Mid-Winter Dinner, National Day Dinner, Christmas Party, and Summer Picnic plus a variety of walks and outings.

Guenther Lammer
Club President

A SHORT HISTORY OF THE AUSTRIAN CLUB AUCKLAND INCORPORATED By Gerhard Simanke Austrian Club President 1986-2008

It was in mid 1978 that the Austrian Ambassador in Canberra as well as the Honorary Consul for Austria in Auckland Mr Peter Ellis invited Mrs. Hesi Grossman, my wife Deirdre and me to a luncheon to the Yacht Club in Auckland in order to discuss the forming of the Austrian club in Auckland.

There were already some Austrian Clubs established in some Australian cities as well as Wellington and Christchurch as a lot of Austrian tradesmen who came to NZ, to erect some prefabricated houses from Austria, decided the stay in NZ and quite a few of these Austrians came to live in Auckland. Mr Ellis invited all Austrians living in the upper part of the North Island to a meeting at his house in Remuera and a lot of these Austrian people there agreed to form the club. It did not take long as soon after the Austrian Club Auckland Inc. was established.

The object of the society was to provide a meeting place for Society members, to provide and foster a spirit of fellowship amongst members and to assist in maintaining cordial relations with their fellow citizens in NZ.

To afford members all the usual privileges and conveniences of a society, and to encourage social intercourse by providing entertainments for them and their friends.

Our first President of the club was Mrs Hesi Grossman and Joe Eherer being the Vice President. In 1985 Joe Eherer took over to be the President and Deirdre Simanke being the Vice President. I took over to be President of the club in 1986 with Tom Bichler being the Vice President. Tom became President in 2008, and has been followed by Guenter Lammer in 2020. Quite a few of the early Committee members are still active in the club.

Highlight of the Year - The Austrian Ball by Tom Bichler, President of the Austrian Club Auckland from 2008 to 2020.

The highlight of the Austrian Club Year was the Austrian Ball which was held at the Big I which was the nick name of the Intercontinental Hotel. It became the Hyatt Hotel and not too long ago the Pullman Hotel. At the time it had an Austrian manager who provided us with excellent Austrian food. They also stocked Austrian wine which made for an authentic Austrian experience and lovely ball nights.

It was always a fantastic occasion with everyone dressed up in suits, smokings or tails and of course traditional costumes. I remember Gerhard Simanke’s son "Little Gerhard" and daughter Katia in Lederhosen and Dirndel as the welcoming committee. We always had a classical quartet or sextet and a pop or rock band.One of the bands were the "Legends", a hard grinding rock band. The floor was always full with dancers and we managed to get 100 people to came and enjoy the evening. It was a great venue and excellent atmosphere. There was lots of Walzer and also Rock'n Roll. Thanks to Gerhard Simanke’s efforts the ball nights were always a huge success.

Austrian Club Memories by Jo Eherer past Austrian Club President, secretary, treasurer, vice president and current committee member

Well, it is most likely that I am the oldest committee member in the Austrian Club. During those early days of the club’s existence, I must have held every office - ie secretary, treasurer, vice-president, and president. In the early days, committee members changed frequently - at least once in a year.

Mrs Grossmann was an excellent public figure for the club. Most of our first meetings were held in her coffee shop in Brown’s Bay, and she certainly insisted on getting the best for the club. Every function had to be organised in detail – even the committee meetings.

There are two specific incidents I clearly remember. One was at a committee meeting when she asked me to go into the kitchen and bring the Linzer Torte and the tea and the coffee. I searched for the Linzer Torte but could not find it, but I did find a “Gitter Kuchen”, which I reported to her. There’s no need to tell of her reaction. But that is a clear demonstration of the difference of interpretation between the provinces in Austria. In this case Vienna and Styria.

Another incident I recall occurred on the night of the Austrian Ball. The Ball opening was set for 8pm. and Mrs Grossmann was to give the opening speech. However 8pm passed, 8.15pm passed. At 8.30pm I went to Mrs Grossmann and said it was definitely time to make the opening speech. Reluctantly she made her speech. Even though this is New Zealand, Mrs Grossmann expected the same punctuality as was the custom back home.

There are many stories to tell about the club. When I took over as secretary from Sue Kahn we had 400 registered members. Many of them were from the Goethe Society, but wanted to be paid up members of our club too. The treasurer paid from his own pocket for printing and postage and Klaus Girardet supplied the envelopes. When time permitted Ernst Jelinek printed the newsletter. June and I would sit up till 3am at times to address and stamp the envelopes ready for posting.

During the first year I sent reminder notices to the so-called club members to pay their subscription. After one year there were only 75 people who actually wanted to be paying members. So, it was decided to drop non-paying Goethe Club members.

Yes, there are many stories to tell of those early days, and there are many people who contributed and have given their very valuable time and energy to the club. Members such as Mrs Grossmann, Ernst Jelinek, Mr Bernard Aigner, Susi Kahn, Deirdre Simanke, Sigrid Buchanan, Klaus Girardet, Franz Starkl, Harry Sangl and don't forget June was also a big help and the list goes on.

Austrian Club Memories by Eileen Ponting, Secretry of the Austrian Club Auckland to 2015

1990 was a memorable year for me in the Austrian Club. I became the ‘temporary’ Secretary early in the year when the incumbent, Thomas Butz moved to Hamilton only 6 months after becoming the club’s secretary. I can remember drafting my newsletters in full sitting in the garden or down on a local beach that first year. I had an electronic typewriter to use and once written the wording could not be changed around. How different & so much easier it is today using the computer. All the newsletters were photocopied & sent by post - today there are only a few members receiving them in the mail.

In January 1990 the Austrian Dance Group Froehlicher Kreis (Happy Circle), 30 dancers & two musicians made up mostly of Austrian Club members, performed at the Opening Ceremony of the Commonwealth Games at Mount Smart Stadium. It was a wonderful occasion and reward for the many hours of practise we all put in. There were dance groups from England, Ireland, Scotland & Wales and from many European countries as well as us performing at the same time. Gerhard Simanke, the club’s president in 1990, carried the Austrian Flag at the Opening Ceremony.

Later in the year, in September the Club had a skiing weekend at Turoa, staying in a lodge in Ohakune. Richard & I had not been skiing since moving up from Christchurch in 1982 so it was very special for us to be on skis again after so many years. I had learnt to ski in Austria as a teenager which is when I came to love the Austrian culture. After that weekend, we started skiing every year & have had many wonderful days on the slopes of Turoa.

Embassy of Austria in Canberra, Australia

Consulate General of Austria in Wellington, New Zealand

Consulate of Austria in Auckland, New Zealand

German Society of New Zealand

Swiss Deli - traditional fine meats and small goods

Swiss Society of New Zealand

Danish Society of New Zealand