Citizens at home in Wanganui

Caroline (left), Tara (front) and Andre Adams (right) became new citizens on Friday, and are joined by Dominic Adams, his fiancee, Carolyn Mariner and Mayor Annette Main. Photo/Bevan Conley

The Adams family from South Africa fell in love with Wanganui when they drove through the city.

That was two and a half years ago.

Andre, Caroline and children Tara and Dominic arrived in Wellington six years ago and were living there at the time they visited Wanganui.

Mr Adams, a Corrections officer, returned to Wellington and asked for a transfer.

On Friday, three of the family members swore their allegiance to their new home country at the Wanganui District Council's new citizenship ceremony.

Their son said he was not yet ready to take the oath.

"We came here for our children and the schooling. It is very peaceful here, we love it," Mr Adams said.

Daughter Tara, is 18 and in Year 13 at Wanganui City College.

Next year she plans to go to Massey University in Palmerston North to study social work.

Mrs Adams said she is "happily a mum".

Debbie Halkett was another who took the oath yesterday. She said she did feel different.

"Mum, dad and three children came halfway around the world on a boat when I was 4, with a measles epidemic on board.

"My husband and kids are Kiwi, but I always thought there would be a lot of paperwork."

Mayor Annette Main officiated with chief executive Kevin Ross, and Whanganui MP Chester Borrows read the welcome from Minister of Internal Affairs Peter Dunne. Members of the Multicultural Group, and friends and family members were there to support the new citizens to Wanganui.

Ms Main thanked the new citizens for choosing "our place as your new place".

"A sense of place where you belong," Ms Main said.

"You have thought about your future and what you want.

"We think it's pretty good to be here, which you have already found out."

The other new citizens were: Linda Barry (British); Jessica Boden (British); Deborah Halkett (British); Samson Mar (Fijian); Vave Taito (Samoan); Jorge Touron (Chilean); Ousaphea Hean (Cambodian); Jake Loggie (British); Roger Willison (British); and Nga Kieu Willison (Vietnamese).