Momentous oath of allegiance taken
Last week, 20 people took an oath in the Far North District Council chambers to became New Zealand citizens. Among the new Kiwis was Vaclav Fisher from the Czech Republic, who became the first person in the Far North to take their oath of allegiance in te reo Māori. This follows a directive from the Department of Internal Affairs which last year asked local authorities to support new citizens who sought the option to do so. Other new citizens choosing to make the Far North home came from the United Kingdom, the Philippines, Canada, Zimbabwe, South Africa, China, Australia, Denmark, Germany, Ukraine, Malaysia and Croatia. The ceremony, officiated by Far North Kahika/Mayor Moko Tepania at the council chambers in Kaikohe, was packed with proud whānau and friends, as well as Far North Deputy Mayor Kelly Stratford, Bay of Islands-Whangaroa Community Board chairwoman Belinda Ward and Russell-Ōpua Ward representative Jane Hindle.
Māori election roll switch ends
Thousands of Māori voters have taken the opportunity to change electoral rolls or update their details before this year’s general election. Voters of Māori descent choose the Māori roll or general roll when they first enrol to vote and can change rolls at any time, except in the three months before an election. Between March 31 and midnight on July 13, nearly 40,000 voters of Māori descent across the country changed rolls, enrolled for the first time or updated their details. The Te Tai Tokerau roll added 1238 people who switched from the general roll, while 929 switched from the Māori to the general roll and 365 people were newly enrolled in the the Tai Tokerau electorate.
Hikers warned following slips
