Eight take oath to become Kiwis

SWORN IN: Christopher Buring (left), Australia, Pete Roberts, England, Angie Smith, Brazil, Emily Greenberg, US, Matthias Ruttimann, Switzerland, Sue Fox, England, Adrienne Staples, James Barron, US, and Charlene James, US. PHOTOS/ANDREW BONALLACK

"I'm a Kiwi citizen - I really am."

Charlene James, originally from California, had a moment when she stopped and gathered herself during the citizenship swearing-in ceremony in Featherston on Monday night.

She was among eight South Wairarapa people formally given New Zealand citizenship at Kiwi Hall, in front of family and friends.

Dr James, a GP locum living in Greytown, said she was "very excited" about becoming a citizen, which made her pause during the oath.

She came from California seven years ago, initially as a six-month locum stint.

"But I really fell in love with this country. This is home."

She started work in Featherston, then Martinborough, and now does locum work all over New Zealand, "getting to know the country".

South Wairarapa Mayor Adrienne Staples said, in her 11-year career as mayor, she had seen quite a few people come through the process.

"There's new people to New Zealand, who have just been here long enough to be granted citizenship, to people who have been here over 30 years - well and truly ensconced - but thought it was about time to become a New Zealand citizen.

"Regardless of that, I always think it must have been a big step to gather yourself up and come down to New Zealand, leaving everything you knew to come here - a long way from anywhere.

"So it's a very special occasion."

The longest "resident" was Featherston's Angie Smith, formerly of Brazil, who had lived here for 34 years.