- Brasileirinhos Aotearoa New Zealand Charitable Trust has secured a new home at Glen Haven Cottage in Tūī Glen Reserve, Henderson, after more than a decade of moving between venues.
- The refurbished 109m² office will allow the group to centralise activities such as Portuguese language playgroups, classes, martial arts, music workshops, and cultural festivals.
- Henderson-Massey Local Board chair Chris Carter says supporting Brasileirinhos reflects the area’s cultural diversity and helps local communities feel a stronger sense of belonging.
A Brazilian cultural group now calls Henderson home, thanks to a new lease granted by Henderson-Massey Local Board.
Brasileirinhos Aotearoa New Zealand Charitable Trust (Brasileirinhos NZ) will move into Glen Haven Cottage at Tūī Glen Reserve in November, after years of wandering between different community centres across Auckland since the trust was founded in 2013.
Their new office, a freshly refurbished 109m² space, includes two rooms, a kitchen, toilet and storage room.
Henderson-Massey Local Board chair Chris Carter is pleased the group has now found a permanent home in the heart of West Auckland.
“We are pleased to be able to support our Brazilian community to flourish here. Our local board is very diverse in population—according to the last census, almost 3% of our residents have Middle Eastern, Latin American, or African heritage. Supporting community groups like this helps celebrate and strengthen that diversity.”
Monica Silveira, chair of Brasileirinhos Aotearoa New Zealand Charitable Trust, says the office marks a milestone for the group after working with the Brazilian community for more than a decade.
“We’re very excited about our new home and would love to express our sincere gratitude to Henderson-Massey Local Board.
“For years we’ve been running activities in different halls across Albany, Henderson, Mt Albert and other parts of Auckland. Now we finally have the space to bring everything together.
“We have a children's library that’s been kept in my home, and we’ve had to hire storage just to keep our decorations and resources. This office gives us room to grow.”
Brasileirinhos NZ runs language playgroups for under-fives, Portuguese language classes for teens and adults, as well as cultural events such as Festa Junina (June Festival) and Carnival.
“With the new place, we can expand to offer even more support—from immigrant support to creative craft workshops, cultural celebrations and community gatherings,” Monica said.
The trust plans to make Glen Haven Cottage a hub for Brazilian culture, offering a welcoming space where people can connect, celebrate traditions, and learn together.
Carter says the board is proud to back groups that reflect the richness of Henderson-Massey.
“Supporting organisations like Brasileirinhos NZ means more people can feel a real sense of belonging and community here in Henderson.”
Check out Brasileirinhos Aotearoa New Zealand Charitable Trust’s Facebook page to see their latest events and programmes.
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