One of Wairarapa's outstanding sportsmen took the oath of allegiance in Masterton yesterday, officially becoming a Kiwi.
Fa'avae Sefo, 2013 world single saw champion and New Zealand representative axeman, was one of 10 new citizens presented with their citizenship certificates and the gift of a kowhai tree by mayor Lyn Patterson at a ceremony held in the Frank Cody Lounge. Mr Sefo first came to New Zealand from his native Samoa in 1987, when he was still a teenager. The trip was intended to be a holiday, being his first overseas adventure but soon became more than that.
"I came to Masterton, took a look at the place and liked what I saw so I applied to become a permanent resident."
All these years later Mr Sefo made the decision to go a step further and become a New Zealand citizen. That decision was driven to some extent by his chosen sport.
Mr Sefo said he has been travelling the world competing in sawing events for the last five years and was due to attend the world championships to be held in Austria in November. Having a New Zealand passport just made things simpler for team matters and also travel, he said.