Why this American swapped allegiances

American-turned-Kiwi Andy Dingfelder reckons he'd be hard pressed to find a US match to his rural Hawke's Bay home where the novelty of being just a short drive from work and town will never wear off.

"The first thing that struck me about New Zealand was its scenery," he said. "I'm really big on the outdoors ... I think Hawke's Bay is my favourite place."

It has been 20 years since his first visit down under and this week he made his love for the great outdoors official when he became a New Zealand citizen.

Mr Dingfelder was one of 17 people who decided to call New Zealand home and attended a citizenship ceremony held by Hastings District Council on Monday. He was also one of six Americans in the group.

His introduction to New Zealand came when he met Hastings woman Linda Hayes at his home town in Northern Carolina just over two decades ago. They have now been married for 19 years.

About seven years ago they decided to move to Hawke's Bay to raise their family.

"I had made many visits to New Zealand before we came here to live so I knew what I was getting into. I am a software developer and we lived in California for four years and it just got too hectic. We wanted a place where we could slow down."

Mr Dingfelder said Hawke's Bay's lifestyle was too much of a deal breaker to pass up. In exchange he had embraced rugby as the national game.

"It just has beautiful scenery here, there's no traffic and a nice pace of life, that's what I keep coming back to."

His American relatives had made visits to the Bay over the years, but as yet Mr Dingfelder had been unable to convince them of a similar change in location.

"They are set on staying where they are but everyone loves it when they come here."

He found work at a software company in Hastings while Linda operates her own mobile vet clinic in Hawke's Bay.