NZ’s oldest Holocaust survivor Rachelle Calkoen on hate, the world today, and sharing her story with young people

Home / New Zealand / WellingtonEthan ManeraNZ Herald·4 Sep, 2026 10:00 PM5 mins to readThe 103 year old has taken part in a new educational film to be taught in high schools, and has made a new friend along the way.At 103, New Zealand’s oldest Holocaust survivor Rachelle Calkoen has lived through Nazi occupation, hiding her Jewish heritage and surviving for years under a stolen identity. Now, the Dutch-born New Zealander is sharing her story with a new generation to warn of the harms of intolerance – and has found AdvertisementAdvertise with NZME.