Pakistan Association Wellington - PAWNZ

20/08/2026

Dear PAWNZ,

A Heartfelt Thank You from PAWNZ

What a celebration! As we reflect on our Pakistan Independence Day event, our biggest feeling is simply gratitude.

Thank you to every member of our community who came along, brought their families, celebrated with us, cheered for our performers and filled the venue with energy, colour and Pakistani-Kiwi spirit. Your smiles, applause, encouragement and enthusiasm throughout the day were felt and deeply appreciated by our entire team.

A very special thank you to our volunteers — the people who quietly make events like this possible. From setting up and coordinating behind the scenes to helping families, performers and guests throughout the day, your contribution was invaluable.

Our heartfelt thanks to Sana Jafri, Tehmina and Saira Anjum for the time, energy and commitment you gave throughout the journey. 💚

And to all our wonderful parents who worked alongside us through rehearsals, endless pick-ups and drop-offs, getting children ready, adjusting family schedules and supporting them to perform — this was perhaps one of the greatest contributions you could have made. Thank you for trusting us with your children and helping our Pakistani-Kiwi generation connect with their heritage.

To our young performers — you made us incredibly proud. Many of you are growing up in Aotearoa, yet you stood on that stage carrying Pakistan through its language, music, culture and traditions. That is exactly why these celebrations matter.

We also sincerely acknowledge our sponsors and supporters, community organisations, performers, stallholders, the Pakistan High Commission, members of the Diplomatic Corps, Members of Parliament, Mayors and civic representatives, and everyone who honoured our community with their presence.

And finally, to the PAWNZ executive and wider team — thank you for the countless hours, planning, problem-solving and hard work that nobody sees behind the photographs.

An event ends in a few hours, but the sense of belonging it creates can last much longer.

Thank you, Wellington. Thank you, our community. 🇵🇰🇳🇿

Together, we celebrated Pakistan — and together, we showed the very best of our Pakistani-Kiwi community.

Pakistan Zindabad! 💚

Warm regards
Team PAWNZ

18/08/2026

Dear PAWNZ,

A Candid Conversation with a Celebrated Artisan

PAWNZ is delighted to host an intimate evening of conversation, stories and reflections with a distinguished Pakistani artist Uzma Gillani — celebrating her journey, experiences and contribution to the arts.

📅 Friday, 28 August 2026
⏰ 6:30–8:30 pm
📍 Mama Sizzler’s Restaurant
3/33 Johnsonville Road, Johnsonville, Wellington 6037

Dinner will be served. A nominal contribution will be requested to help cover costs.

This is an invitation-only event with limited spaces and will be available on first come first serve basis only - couples only 🤗.

For enquiries, please contact:
Asma Azhar | 022 471 5423

An evening to connect, converse and celebrate.

Warm regards,
Asma Azhar

17/08/2026

A thoughtful reflection from Hon Chris Bishop at our Pakistan Independence Day celebrations in Wellington. Pakistan Independence Day celebrations were held at the Lower Hutt Event Centre on 16 August 2026, bringing together members of our wider community in a vibrant and meaningful gathering.

What stood out for me was the recognition that New Zealand’s Pakistani community is no longer simply a migrant community finding its feet — we are increasingly part of the social, economic and civic fabric of Aotearoa.

Our relationship with Pakistan has historically been shaped largely through people-to-people connections and soft diplomacy. The opportunity now is to build on that foundation: stronger institutional relationships, education and skills partnerships, business connections, and a more purposeful bilateral relationship between the two countries.

Independence Day gives us a moment to celebrate where we come from, but equally to reflect on where we are going — particularly for a generation of Pakistani New Zealanders who carry both identities naturally and proudly.

Thank you, Minister, for joining our community and contributing to that conversation. 🇵🇰🇳🇿


New Zealand Diversity Action Programme
Pakistani Community Waikato
Pakistan High Commission New Zealand
Pakistan Association of New Plymouth - PANP
Pakistani Community of Otago
Pakistan Association of New Zealand (PANZ)
Pakistani Association of Canterbury
Pakistan New Zealand Friendship Association

17/08/2026

15/08/2026

Wellington, we’re celebrating Pakistan tomorrow!

Tomorrow, we welcome our community and many special guests to experience the very best of our Pakistani-Kiwi spirit — our culture, warmth, colour, music and, most importantly, our people.

One of the most special parts of tomorrow will be watching our younger generation take the stage. Many of them were born here in New Zealand, yet they proudly carry both their Pakistani roots and Kiwi identity. They’ll be singing songs in a language they may mostly hear at home, learning the traditions we grew up with and making them their own. 💚

So come along and cheer for them. We promise every minute would be a unique experience there. Their effort deserves an audience, their identity deserves celebration, and their confidence deserves our support.

The hard work is done. The performances are ready. The dhol is waiting. The vibe and the hype are building! 🥁🇵🇰

📅 Tomorrow — Sunday, 16 August
⏰ 1:00–4:00 pm
📍 Lower Hutt Events Centre

Bring your family, bring your energy and bring your Pakistani spirit.

Let’s celebrate Pakistan — together! 🇵🇰💚

Much love
Team PAWNZ

13/08/2026

Happy Independence Day Pakistan 🇵🇰

Today is a celebration, but also a moment for reflection.

As President of PAWNZ, I believe our sense of unity matters most when there is uncertainty, division and polarisation around us. No country is perfect. Every nation has its successes, its struggles and chapters it must learn from. Loving a country does not mean refusing to see its imperfections; it means continuing to hope, contribute and work towards something better.

Whatever our differences, our shared heritage should be something that brings us together rather than pulls us apart.

Today, let’s celebrate Pakistan with pride, perspective and hope — and remember that our strength has always been greater when we stand together.

And we look forward to celebrating together with our Wellington community this Sunday, 16 August, at Lower Hutt Events Centre ❤️

Warm regards
Asma Azhar

12/08/2026

Dear PAWNZ,

A huge thank you to our wonderful sponsors Valentia Technologies, Inteliqo Electrical, Link Finance & Mortgage, and BBQ Chaska for supporting PAWNZ Pakistan Independence Day 2026.

We are also incredibly grateful to a number of individual sponsors who have generously contributed to help us pull this major community celebration together.

With this collective support, PAWNZ will be delivering one of our largest-scale celebrations without any government funding — a true example of community backing community model that PAWNZ was always looking forward to💚

Thank you for believing in what we are building and helping us make it possible.

See you all 16 August 2026 | Wellington 🇵🇰🇳🇿

Shukeria
Team PAWNZ

03/08/2026

🇵🇰 PAWNZ Pakistan Independence Day Celebration 2026 🇵🇰

Kia ora / اسلام علیکم

Come along with your family and friends to celebrate Pakistan’s 79th Independence Day! Enjoy an evening of celebrating our beautiful culture and heritage through cultural performances, great food and community 💚

📅 Date: 16 August 2026
📍 Venue: Lower Hutt Events Centre, 30C Laings Road, Hutt Central, Lower Hutt 5010
⏰ Time: 01:00 PM - 04:00 PM
💰 Event Fee: $30 per family or $10 per individual aged 14 and over.

📋Please register using the Google Form link below:
https://forms.gle/GXKW3euyRr7xFXvT9

_Registration is essential for catering and event management purposes, so please ensure all attendees are registered._

We look forward to celebrating with you and our community! 🇵🇰

Nga mihi nui / شکریہ
Team PAWNZ

30/07/2026

Celebrating PAWNZ 2nd year on Facebook. Thank you for your continuing support. We could never have made it without you. 🙏🤗🎉