Governor General Dame Patsy Reddy presents 25 citizenship certificates in Kaitaia ceremony

Fiomaono Solomona Emelio Brown, centre, takes the oath to become a New Zealand citizen with Mayor John Carter and Governor-General Dame Patsy Reddy in Kaitaia yesterday.

Far North Mayor John Carter regularly presides over citizenship ceremonies at Te Ahu in Kaitaia, but yesterday's welcome to 25 new New Zealanders was special.

The certificates of citizenship were presented by Governor-General Dame Patsy Reddy, who was beginning a three-day visit to the Northland.

Those who took the oath or affirmation of allegiance included Ahipara woman Lucy Houtas, who said she had been in New Zealand for eight years.

"I married a Kiwi, my children are Kiwis, and I thought it was time I joined them," she said.

Dame Patsy and her husband Sir David Gascoigne were welcomed to Kaitaia with a powhiri at Te Ahu earlier in the morning. Later in the day they visited Kai Ora Honey, in Awanui, Kaitaia Primary School, He Korowai Trust and the Moko Foundation.

Today they visit Otehei Bay and Pompallier House, in Russell, where Russell School children will perform, and tomorrow they will meet students at Tai Tokerau Resort College in Paihia and host a community reception on the Waitangi Treaty Grounds in the early evening.