Home sweet home at last for new Kiwis

NEW CITIZENS: Tarek Muhamdiah (right) and Tolin Fattah, of Jordan, with daughters Meena, 4, Jeena, 3, and Zeena, 1. PHOTO/STEPHEN PARKER 270814SP5

It had been a long, slow journey for many of the new people granted New Zealand citizenship at a ceremony at Rotorua District Council yesterday.

Twenty-four people from nations as diverse as Jordan, Sri Lanka, India and Fiji took the oath to become citizens before family and friends.

Oman-born Jordanian Tarek Jihad Abdelrahim Muhamdiah said he arrived in New Zealand nearly eight years ago, looking for adventure.

"I had the choice of either Australia or New Zealand, and thought New Zealand would be more exciting," he said.

The tourism and hospitality student lost his job as a Rotorua restaurant head chef soon after he arrived when the business closed unexpectedly.

With help from friends he was able to support his wife Tolin and bring up three daughters Meena, Jeena, and Zeena.

"It was very hard and tough times and I am very thankful for the support I have been given.

"We have found Rotorua a very different culture to what we knew in the Middle East," he said.

"We did not have a lot of information to go on and the first thing my wife had to experience was coming from a climate of 50 degrees Celsius to minus 10 degrees."

New York-born Marilyn East, wife of former Attorney-General Paul East, was granted citizenship in the absence of her husband who was on governmental business in Afghanistan.

"It's been a long time and I would like to say how very thankful I am," she said. "This is a big step and I'm very proud."

British-born Tokoroa police officer Joanne McTeague celebrated her birthday by being granted citizenship alongside husband Jonathan Monks.

Rotorua District Council cultural ambassador Trevor Maxwell led the singing of Happy Birthday.

The 90-minute ceremony, conducted by Rotorua Mayor Steve Chadwick, included singing by Ngongotaha Primary School pupils and soloist Grace McCarthy-Sinclair, with Sherlie Dingwell on piano.

The Rotorua Daily Post asked some of our new citizens why they decided to live in Rotorua:

It's a beautiful and clean city, neat and tidy, with nice people and weather.

RAJESH PRASAD (Fiji)

I really like the people and the weather here.

RAYMOND COMPARINI (Samoa)

It's a calm city, not too busy and there is lots to enjoy.

SUSANTHA SIRIWARDANA (Sri Lanka)

The scenery is very impressive, it's so green and the people are very friendly.

JOSEPH PABLO (Philippines)

The nice people and the opportunity to own land to have animals.

JOANNE McTEAGUE (Britain)

The space to enjoy the outdoors, there's so much of it to enjoy.

JONATHAN MONKS (Britain)