The original home nations of the citizens were widely scattered and included the UK, Vietnam, Ukraine and Fiji. Their careers were equally varied, and included music teachers, IT specialists and general practitioners.
The ceremony was opened by Taupō-nui-a-Tia College’s kapa haka group, led by Ngāti Tūwharetoa representative Matua Snow, who performed two waiata and a haka to welcome the citizens.
Snow said the ceremony marked more than being welcomed to New Zealand, it was an invitation into the Taupō community.
He welcomed all generations of newcomers, and said the children in particular would integrate easily into New Zealand society, and perhaps even go on to represent it. He joked that playing rugby was inevitable and that “your boys will go on to be All Blacks [and] your girls will go on to be even better - Black Ferns”.
He asked that new citizens took seriously their role as kaitiaki (guardians) of the area. Overall, though, his message was a simple one.
“Welcome home to our place, welcome home to your place.”
This sentiment was echoed by deputy mayor Kevin Taylor, who in overseeing the ceremony recognised that “for some of you, this has been a long journey”.
The ceremony ended with Taylor sharing a letter from Jan Tineti, Minister of Internal Affairs.
“I welcome you as a fellow New Zealander. I hope that you will treasure your New Zealand citizenship,” Tinetti said.
Citizenship of New Zealand allows people to live, work and travel in and out of New Zealand without restrictions. Most citizens who were born overseas need to have spent a minimum amount of time living in New Zealand over a five-year period, as well as meeting character, English language and other criteria.
