There was a special atmosphere and afternoon of story-telling at Rotorua Lakes Council on Tuesday as the first citizenship ceremony since the Covid-19 lockdown was held.
Since February 18 last year, citizenship certificates were posted to new citizens, but ceremonies have commenced once again.
Twenty-six people became new Kiwis on Tuesday, from countries including the Philippines, Indonesia, Fiji, El Salvador, India, South Africa, the United States and England.
Rotorua Primary School pupils gave a kapa haka performance as part of the ceremony, and Rotorua Intermediate also performed a haka when fellow student, Avish Chand, became a citizen.
![Ayush, Aklesh, Avish and Harjeet Chand becoming New Zealand citizens at the ceremony, with deputy mayor Dave Donaldson (left). Photo / Supplied](https://www.nzherald.co.nz/resizer/v2/XGX2ITFXARAW2DQOQQUQLSUFUY.jpg?auth=dd97649e06acc8e53721d8aaeda6b431256cef6007ce1c91929d8cd520bf0e02&width=16&height=11&quality=70&smart=true)