![Apinya Forrest.](https://www.nzherald.co.nz/resizer/v2/U6CC6LM34B7NKVSYTR3TXCWZUY.jpg?auth=dabb5f3eb7d840a73ea3180d10915753ac93946ae9c88ee941acab2e29c08520&width=16&height=11&quality=70&smart=true)
It's been a long time coming and I already knew I was a New Zealander. It's just a sense of feeling like you're with your people.
Apinya Forrest
Moved to New Zealand in 1999, Thai
![Thomas Mackenzie.](https://www.nzherald.co.nz/resizer/v2/RU2CPLLFI5XUNMF5XGO2VQX7TA.jpg?auth=828e113a4c5593f4a0688db059fe03895ea531b5411f30e9e553da33a8ae46b7&width=16&height=11&quality=70&smart=true)
Rotorua has become home to a new group of citizens. Photo / File
It's been a long time coming and I already knew I was a New Zealander. It's just a sense of feeling like you're with your people.
Apinya Forrest
Moved to New Zealand in 1999, Thai
My wife wanted to move to Australia but I had to put my foot down and we came to New Zealand instead. This is my home, and I don't mean New Zealand, I mean Rotorua.
Thomas Mackenzie
Moved to New Zealand in 1967, British
It took a long time to decide to become citizens because we didn't want to take the choice away from our children. When we came back from holiday and one our daughters said "I'm so happy to be home" we knew they were ready for citizenship.
Durgeshni Goswami
Moved to New Zealand in 2003, Fijian
I always knew it was a beautiful and peaceful country and it was my dad's dream to live here. I know he would be very proud.
Mandeep Kaur
Moved to New Zealand in 2010
Indian
Wastewater testing reveals the amount of drugs Bay people are consuming.