The sun shone on a special day for 13 people from our district as they took their oath of citizenship and received their certificates from Mayor Craig Rowley on Tuesday 23 June at the Waimate Event Centre. Four places of origin were represented: Nauru, Philippines, Tonga and the United Kingdom.
Mayor Rowley said citizenship ceremonies were one of his favourite duties as a mayor. He welcomed the participants and their friends and family, thanked them for making New Zealand their home and invited them to say a few words after making their oath.
The new Kiwis spoke of their pride in becoming New Zealand citizens and their gratitude for being here.
Karen Perez spoke of leaving friends and wider family in the Philippines as one of the hardest things she’d ever done. However, she said, moving to New Zealand, and to Waimate was ultimately, “One of the best decisions of our lives. We have been welcomed with warmth and genuine kindness.”
