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Bangladeshi Community · Aotearoa New Zealand

Testiva Association, Bangladesh

A community group bringing together Bangladeshi families, students, and professionals living across New Zealand — to celebrate culture, support newcomers, and stay connected to home.

টেস্টিভা এসোসিয়েশন, বাংলাদেশ

Get in Touch Learn About Us
Who We Are

A community, built by and for Bangladeshis in New Zealand

Testiva Association, Bangladesh is a volunteer-run community group for people of Bangladeshi background living in New Zealand, along with their families and friends. Our aim is simple: to give Bangladeshi Kiwis a place to celebrate their heritage, support one another, and build friendships across the wider community.

Like many diaspora associations, we bring people together around the things that matter most — festivals, food, language, and looking out for each other as newcomers settle into life in a new country. We are not affiliated with the Government of Bangladesh or any political party; we are an independent, community-led group.

Mangal Shobhajatra procession celebrating Pohela Boishakh, the Bengali New Year
Pohela Boishakh (Bengali New Year) is one of the most widely celebrated occasions among Bangladeshi communities worldwide.
Our Community in New Zealand

Bangladeshis in New Zealand, at a glance

Bangladeshi New Zealanders are a small but fast-growing community. Here is what the most recent official census tells us about who we are and where we live.

3,552

People identified as being of Bangladeshi ethnicity in the 2023 New Zealand Census — up from 2,337 in 2018.

Auckland

Home to the largest share of the community, with smaller groups in Christchurch, Dunedin, Wellington, and elsewhere.

Growing

Most Bangladeshi New Zealanders arrived within the last decade, with a growing number of children now born and raised here.

Source: Stats NZ, 2023 Census of Population and Dwellings — figures are randomly rounded for confidentiality. See Bangladeshi New Zealanders — background reading.

What We Do

How we aim to bring the community together

As a community association, our focus areas typically include the following. What actually runs in any given year depends on volunteer capacity and member interest — get in touch if you'd like to help shape it.

01

Cultural Festivals

Marking occasions important to Bangladeshi culture — such as Pohela Boishakh (Bengali New Year), Independence Day, Victory Day, and Eid — with gatherings that welcome the whole family.

02

Newcomer Support

Informal guidance for newly arrived Bangladeshi students, workers, and families — from settling-in tips to connecting people with others who've been through the same journey.

03

Language & Heritage

Encouraging Bengali language and cultural knowledge among children raised in New Zealand, so heritage isn't lost across generations.

04

Social Meet-ups

Casual get-togethers, potlucks, and sports — simple ways for members to build friendships beyond the big annual events.

05

Community Voice

Representing the interests and perspective of the Bangladeshi community in conversations with local multicultural councils and community networks.

06

Mutual Support

Being a point of contact for members going through a hard time — whether that's a family emergency, a health issue, or just needing advice from someone who understands.

Get Involved

Join us, volunteer, or just say hello

Whether you've just landed in New Zealand or you've called it home for years, there's a place for you here. This is a community built by its members — the more people involved, the more it can offer.

01

Become a Member

Reach out to be added to our community contact list and hear about upcoming gatherings.

02

Volunteer

Help organise events, coordinate logistics, or support newcomers settling into New Zealand life.

03

Share an Idea

Have a suggestion for an event or initiative? Community associations grow through member input.

Get in Touch

We'd love to hear from you

Questions about the community, ideas for events, or interested in getting involved? Reach out directly — we're a small, volunteer-run group and we read every message.

Flag of Bangladesh Flag of New Zealand Bangladesh · New Zealand
Community Organizer
Azizur Rahman
Phone +64 22 549 1933
Email azizur.testivafyi@proton.me
Organisation Testiva Association, Bangladesh
This is an independent community group and is not affiliated with, endorsed by, or acting on behalf of the Government of Bangladesh, the New Zealand Government, or any political organisation. Membership numbers, events, and activities described are general in nature and may vary from year to year based on volunteer availability.
Photo credits (Wikimedia Commons, various licences — click through for author & licence details): Pohela Boishakh procession · Iftar platter, Sylhet · Rohu fish curry · Auckland skyline · Sky Tower at night · Flags: Wikimedia Commons public-domain flag files.