Not a word was spoken aloud because the 31-year-old Filipino is deaf.
Instead, he gave his assurance to be a good Kiwi, using New Zealand Sign Language.
After the ceremony, through a sign language interpreter, Mr Javier said he was not born deaf.
Rather, he had many respiratory infections and ear infections as a toddler, which eventually took a toll on his hearing.
His parents brought him to New Zealand in 2013 so he could learn sign language and reach his full educational potential.
‘‘It was so I could access school — that was the reason they decided to move over here, because they thought I would be able to have better opportunities in the school system in New Zealand.’’
He went to the Van Asch Deaf Education Centre where he learned sign language before continuing his education in English at university.
As well as being a artist/painter, he now tutors New Zealand Sign Language and works at Ko Taku Reo which manages sign language tutors in schools.
‘‘It’s a really rewarding job.’’
He said becoming a New Zealand citizen was the final step in his journey to become part of the country that had helped him so much.
‘‘It’s beneficial for me to be a New Zealand citizen.
‘‘It gives me more access to the benefits that other New Zealanders have.’’
He did not have as many barriers here as he would have had in the Philippines, he said.
‘‘I can access the interests that I have, the hobbies that I like, and that’s better for my quality of life.
‘‘I love it here in New Zealand. I’ve got great friends here. I’m reaching my full potential.’’
Others gaining New Zealand citizenship at the Fullwood Room, in Dunedin yesterday, were: Richard Adams (UK) and Sonja Adams (Germany); Gheill Azarcon (NZ) Cielo Azarcon (Philippines); Ovita Beres (NZ) and Melanie Beres (Canada); Polly Borah (India) and Joy Parhi (India); Sven Captijn (NZ); Wan Har Chen (Malaysia); Matthew Solomon Cheng (China); Jazer Arendain Cuervo (Philippines); Phuong Nam Le Dang (Vietnam); Mohammad Ebrahim (Syria); Simon Erickson (Canada); Syed Faisal Hasan (Bangladesh); Jonathan Hogben (England); Aezl Anne Rose Mercado Hope (Philippines); Ash Hulme (Australia); Samara Shodavaram, Jaden Shodavaram, Joshua Shodavaram and Cathy Joseph Shodavaram (India); Suk Ngar Emily Kwan (China); Anh Mai Nhat La and Quang Mai Nhat La (Singapore); Minh Ha Nguyen (Vietnam); On Lee Lau (Hong Kong); Kar Wai Ling and Lawrence Haw Kiet Ling (Malaysia); Fides Salve Perez Manabat (Philippines); Yah Li Ong (Malaysia); Balazs Palfalvi (Hungary); Anu Mary Paul (India); Harriet Pearson (UK); Stephen Power (UK); Amy Ricketts (UK), Cai Ricketts (UK), Erin Ricketts (UK), Nia Ricketts (Wales); Georgy Romanov (Russian Federation); Anu Ruhil (India); Drew Schafer (US); Scott Schieber (US), Kathryn Schieber (US), Nickolas Schieber (India); Daniel Sela (Germany); Teresa Quijada Silan, Michael Malit Silan, Ma Micaela Quijada Silan, Lance Gabriel Quijada Silan, Ma Sofia Quijada Silan and Lance Rafael Quijada Silan (Philippines); Elizabeth Sommer (Zambia); Kayla Such (Australia); Sophie Sutherland (UK); Stuart Todd (England); Julie Trewern (Malaysia); Jennifer Upton (Australia); Epeli Uluiyatova Veikoso, Emelina Turaganivei Veikoso and Ilite Salaiwai Veikoso (Fiji); Jaya Verma and Dhanesh Verma (England); Fang Wei (China) and Benjamin Sun (China).
