South Wairarapa has gained 12 new citizens after a ceremony held in the Greytown Town Centre on Tuesday.
Expatriates of Britain, China, Ireland, Philippines, Germany and Australia were affirmed or swore an oath of allegiance and officially became New Zealanders.
Mayor Adrienne Staples led them through their affirmations and welcomed them as new citizens.
"I praise you all for coming to New Zealand and I hope that New Zealand is all you hoped it would be," she said.
The new Kiwis, with their families and friends, sang the national anthem, before South Wairarapa District Council chief executive Paul Crimp finished the ceremony by reading out a personal message to the new citizens from Minister of Internal Affairs Peter Dunne.
