NEW CITIZEN: Indian-born Fluver Litten takes the oath to become a new citizen at a ceremony in Rotorua. PHOTO/STEPHEN PARKER
It started with the hope for a better life, and ended with an oath, cheers, and smiles all around.
After nine years in New Zealand, Indian-born Fluver Litten joined 24 others in becoming a citizen in Rotorua today.
His wife, Ashitha George, and their children Leon and Noel looked on proudly as Litten took his oath.
The chef-turned-petrol station customer service representative said he was "really excited" and "so happy" after the ceremony.
"We wanted a better life, support for good opportunities, a peaceful country."
Mayor Steve Chadwick welcomed the 25 new citizens, and the dozens of family and friends who came to show their support, to the first citizenship ceremony of 2018.
Chadwick said ceremonies would usually be held every six weeks, but due to a backlog of people wanting to become citizens, another ceremony would be held within a month.
A traditional Maori welcome would usually be performed by one of the district's primary school cultural groups, but the school holidays meant the council's staff cultural group took on the role instead.
Also becoming New Zealand citizens were two familiar faces in Rotorua's cafe scene.
Alan and Valerie Janin, owners of Le Cafe de Paris, took the affirmation after 15 years in the country.
The pair, originally from France, were "very proud" to be Kiwis, Valerie said - but choosing who to back during rugby tests would prove difficult.
For England-born Deborah Oldham, becoming a citizen was "truly a privilege".
She made the move to Rotorua after visiting during her honeymoon with her Kiwi husband.
Spending time in the city made her realise it was "home", she said.
Each new citizen or family was gifted the book Choice and a seedling to lay roots here in New Zealand.
In total, two Indians, three British, one Papua New Guinean, one Samoan, three Filipinos, four Thai, two French, six Koreans, and one Swedish person became New Zealand citizens.
New citizens
Fluver Litten: India, Rajeev Bajwa: India, Margot Angela Hope: Britain, Hilda Joyce Lamont: Papua New Guinea, Pepe Ailafo Motu: Samoa, Robert Mowbray: Britain, Margaret Rose Mowbray: Britain, Leslie Edano Opiana: Phillipines, Paul Mendoza Opiana: Phillipines, Paul Vincent Edano Opiana: Phillipines, Pratheep Tabpramool: Thailand, Buachan Tabpramool: Thailand, Parichat Tabpramool: Thailand, Pareeya Tabpramool: Thailand, Alain Andre Louis Janin: France, Valerie Philippe Janin: France, Jeungah Kim: Korea, Sunyoung Kim: Korea, Dayoung Kim: Korea, Dongwook Lee: Korea, Seung Hee Ham: Korea, Seungjae Lee: Korea, Hyunjae Lee: Korea, Nazifa Mesic: Sweden, Deborah Jane Oldham: Britain
Hīkoi mō te Tiriti protesters in Rotorua.