By the time Poul was 21 years of age, in 1955, he had
already completed an apprenticeship and his compulsory military training and he was
pleased to be a qualified builder. Now, he was ready for the next phase of life,
something new and adventurous.
An invitation from a far-away country
Poul’s childhood friend, Hans Balle, had migrated to New Zealand and
suggested Poul join him. The invitation was too hard to turn down and
there was nothing to stop him travelling. That he could speak little
English and knew very little of New Zealand, was not a concern.
“I will be back in three years”, was his solemn promise to his
mother and father, who were excited for him if not a little anxious
that he was going so far away.
His boat trip to Australia was eventful for a young man.
On Tuesday 5th
February 1957, Poul flew from Sydney to Auckland. As the plane
approached Auckland the city was covered in thick fog preventing
the plane from landing. It was diverted to Ohakea Airport.
Hans Balle had also arranged a job for Poul with the builder Børge Kirk,
known as Bob Kirk. Within days of arriving Poul was at work. His
fellow workers were Danes and New Zealanders and in a beginning way
he learnt a little more English.
Working as a builder for Bob Kirk
He clearly remembers his first day. The project was to build a factory
for Schofields in Newmarket, opposite the Olympic Pool. No sooner
had they got into their work when his fellow builders put their tools
He had to adapt to the New Zealand way of building houses. He was used
to working with timber frames but not the prepared weatherboards, as
the outside cladding of all Danish houses are built in brick. Nor was
he used to preparing the boxing for the concrete foundation. He found
the differences interesting and just got on with the requirements of
the job. “In those days,” says Poul, “a builder
worked on all aspects of the house outside and inside. We did all the
finishing inside making doors, windows and kitchen cabinets. There
was no pre-fabrication. It made the work very satisfying.”
Bob Kirk and his wife Ruth, together with their daughters had arrived in
New Zealand in 1949. Their home in Panmure was located behind the
shopping centre, on a large section. Here they not only had a
comfortable home but there was also space for his workshop and
business. The Kirk’s home was a magnet to young Danes as Ruth
was a good cook.
Bob Kirk was president of the fast-growing Danish Society in Auckland,
which in the late 1950s purchased the picture theatre on Parnell
Rise. With so many carpenters among the Society’s membership,
the men sawed and hammered to refurbish the facility to create the
large upper reception room and a smaller hall below.
With the Kirk’s encouragement, the young people formed a folk dancing
group. Bob Kirk and his staff built an outdoor platform for their
dancing practices. “We knew all these dances from home,”
says Poul, “and we had a lot of good times. It cemented
friendships that were going to last for a life and still exist
Falling in love
There was a particular young Danish woman in the folk dancing group that
Poul was attracted to. They became dancing partners and began to
enjoy each other’s company. After three years in NZ, full of
hard work, many good friends and a lot of fun, he found himself being
torn between his love for his girlfriend and his parents back home
in Denmark. The promise to his mother was that he would only be away
for three years and now he was deeply in love, on the other side of
the world. For Poul there was only one thing to do and that was to
marry. Denmark would have to wait a while. The wedding took place in
May 1960. They were both in their 20s, young, energetic and happy.
Building his first family home
With responsibility for his wife, Poul found a section in Lagoon Road by
the Panmure Basin, within walking distance of his job. Here he built
a house on the cliff, high above the road. Poul was building at work
and in his spare time, but this house belonged to him and his wife and
that felt special. Access from Lagoon Drive to the house was by an
outdoor elevator. “It was the first to be built in Auckland,”
says Poul proudly.
When the children came along, they had the ideal setting. Living close to
the grandparents, the boys were encouraged to speak Danish with them
as well as within their own home. The Danish Society provided the
wider community to reinforce Danish culture through celebrations at
Christmas – Juletræsfest, Easter, Fastelavn, and the
traditions surrounding birthdays. The home and household was Danish,
but at school the boys spoke English. “They were good times”,
says Poul, “I would not have had that kind of life in Denmark.
Nor would I have been able to earn so well.”
First trip back to Denmark
Poul knew he needed to go back to visit his parents in Gislev, Denmark. So
in 1969 he was proud to take his wife and two sons back to Denmark to
visit his family and friends. It was later than he had promised his
mother but he made it. He was aware how much he had changed and was
happy about his choice to stay in New Zealand. This visit was going
to be the first of many. “I have been back to Denmark so many
times now that I have lost count.”
His parents came out to New Zealand in 1976 and although they spoke no
English, they loved his chosen country and being with Poul and his family.
Establishing his own business
Poul worked for Bob Kirk for 15 years in total. In 1972 he set up his own
He was a good worker, energetic, easy for customers to deal with and an
expert builder. There was always more than enough work and he
employed good staff to assist his business.
A New Zealand life
In his office he has a wooden carved sign hanging over the door with the
inscription of this Danish saying “Nu har vi det godt”,
which means we are having a good time, now.
Poul looks back at his life, with its many opportunities, challenges and
He appreciates his sons who have both achieved in their own lives, in
the construction business, one in Australia and one in Auckland, and
he loves his grand-children.
He is proud of his work history and business achievements and has
contributed to New Zealand society in many ways especially through
Rotary, of which he was a member for 30 years. He has many friends
with whom he and his wife socialise. Poul has developed over the
years an appreciation of quality and has been able to enjoy that
aspect of life.
There are no regrets about leaving Denmark. “I could not live there
now, but I love going back to Denmark” he says. “I like
the attitudes of people in New Zealand and I love this country where
I have been given so many opportunities and more than I could ever
You can understand why I made the sign “Nu har vi det godt”.
That is my life.