Newest citizens delighted to call NZ home

Masterton's Marquerite Vierstraete-Williams fell in love with New Zealand, and her husband, 18 years ago. She affirmed her allegiance at a citizenship ceremony this week.

Mrs Vierstraete-Williams, of Holland, was one of 12 people who officially became citizens or affirmed their allegiance on Thursday in the Frank Cody Lounge.

In 1994, she travelled to New Zealand to visit a friend she had lived with in the Caribbean.

"I was only going to stay half a year or a year and then move away," she said. "This is the country I've lived the longest in."

She lived in Auckland and Wellington before settling in Wairarapa. Although she didn't want to give up her Dutch passport, once the law changed to allow dual citizens she decided to become a citizen.

Masterton Mayor Garry Daniell took the time to explain the historic photographs in the lounge, before officially welcoming the new citizens.

"We are pleased today that you have taken this important step in becoming a New Zealand citizen," he said.

"It's because of people like you we've become a broader and better thinking country."

Among the new citizens were the Pagaialii family of Samoa who chose to wear their traditional dress, puletasi.

Falanika Pagaialii said they had been in New Zealand about nine months and decided they wanted to "be part of the country".

She said they chose to wear their national costume to show pride in their home country.

Marie-Louise Wardell, of the Netherlands, said she had been in the country for many years and all her children were already citizens.

"I thought I better join them," she said.

American Aneta Bibby has been back and forth from New Zealand for the past 10 years.

"My husband is a citizen and my daughter and I just thought it was time to make it official," she said.

Milan and Anita Walter, of Britain, have spent most of the past eight years in Wairarapa.

"It's such a great place for kids to grow up and nice people as well," said Mr Walter.

South Korea's Paula and Jun Warren have been in the country for 10 years and made their citizenship official because "this is our home," Mrs Warren said.