The foundation that's tasked itself with educating New Zealanders on all things Asian has taken time out to reflect on our ethnic evolution over the last twenty years.

The Asia New Zealand Foundation celebrated its 20th birthday at a gala dinner in Auckland yesterday evening.

Director of Research Andrew Butcher says New Zealand's ethnic makeup has changed a lot in the last two decades.

He says when the foundation was set up New Zealand's Asia population was three percent - it's now 12 percent.

Andrew Butcher adds China wasn't even in the top 20 trading partners for New Zealand - it's now our top trading partner.