'We are the truly lucky ones'

Nine-year-old Laila Basiri was fifth on board the Norwegian freighter, the Tampa, when it came to the refugees' rescue in 2001.

Alina Rahimi and Laila Basiri can barely remember arriving in New Zealand nearly four years ago from Nauru where they had to endure uncomfortable days in the hold of an Australian troop ship.

However, the 9-year-olds can recall their fear in August 2001 as the crowded boat they were travelling in with their families who had fled Afghanistan began taking on water near Christmas Island in the Indian Ocean.

Alina proudly reports she was the first to be taken aboard the Norwegian freighter, the Tampa, which came to their rescue.

Laila was the fifth.

Yesterday they both became New Zealand citizens.

In a special ceremony at the TelstraClear Pacific Events Centre in Manukau the first group of 75 Tampa refugees gained citizenship to the only country that was then prepared to take them in.

The asylum seekers did not know much about New Zealand four years ago.

"But on the boat that took us to Nauru we were told by the Australians it was a good place," Azizullah Mussa, 17, said.

They filled three long rows at the front of the Genesis Energy Theatre, lines of jet black hair occasionally broken by sparkling kula (caps) or delicate rusari (head scarfs).

Their dress ranged from three-quarter-length jeans and t-shirts to traditional baggy shirts and trousers, with heavily embroidered waistcoats.

Prime Minister Helen Clark, who awarded the certificates of citizenship, recalled the events of August 2001 when she learned of the stand-off and Australia's refusal to admit the asylum seekers.

"I eventually came to the conclusion people could not be left to sit on a boat in the Indian Ocean forever."

New Zealand agreed to accept people from the Tampa although Helen Clark said she realised she was walking a fine line, as she did not wish to encourage illegal immigration.

She said she believed the circumstances in Afghanistan left the people few options but to leave and find refuge somewhere else.

Afghanistan had had the worst Government in the world at that time and been through years of war, drought and an extremist government, she said.

"Life was almost impossible, particularly for women and girls."

The Prime Minister also praised the work of Child, Youth and Family and the Immigration Service as well as the staff of Selwyn College who had designed a special programme for many of the boys who had almost no formal education.

"This is a happy day for New Zealand from something that began as a tragedy."

The first to receive citizenship had been Salmanali Abdullali who featured in Friday's Herald.

"It was wonderful, really amazing," he said afterwards.

Manukau City Mayor, Sir Barry Curtis, said it was an historic occasion.

Sir Barry said it was appropriate for Manukau to host the event as it was not only the home of Auckland's international airport and the Mangere refugee centre, but was a city of 156 cultures.

Azizullah, the youngest of the Tampa boys who had travelled as an unaccompanied minor, was glad he would no longer be known as a "refugee", but as a New Zealander.

Azizullah arrived in Auckland speaking no English but is now one of the top science students in his class at Selwyn College.

In June he will help represent New Zealand at a global youth conference in the United States.

His parents, three sisters and four brothers have now joined him in New Zealand.

Azizullah said everyone wanted to show their appreciation for the opportunities they had here.

They had come looking for peace and safety, their travels had been difficult and their lives full of doubt.

"Many had taken the road before us and failed, but we are the truly lucky ones."

Refugee story

* August 2001, New Zealand accepts 133 Tampa refugees, including 37 unaccompanied minors known as the Tampa boys.
* January 2004, the boys' first family members arrive.
* September 2004, a further 207 of their relations settle in New Zealand.