"I've been wanting to do this for a long time. It completes the picture after coming here and becoming part of a new country," he said.
Mr Charles left a turbulent Belfast 12 years ago in search of a better life.
"Life is a lot quieter here. It's really good. It's certainly a lot more relaxed than it was in Belfast back then. Although, it's quietened down quite a bit back there now." The full-time firefighter, based at the Roslyn Fire Station, was one of 42 people from 15 countries to become new New Zealanders at the ceremony conducted by Dunedin city councillor Andrew Noone.
"I wish you well as you embark on, what is for many of you, a new beginning and new life," Cr Noone said.
The citizens were presented with New Zealand citizenship certificates and a native hebe "to symbolise the putting down of roots in your new country".
The new citizens sworn in yesterday were: Preethy Abraham (India), Julie Anne Maire Bishop, Emma Katie Bishop and Kaia Marie Bishop (all Britain), Shin Wei Chan (Malaysia), Michael Larmour Charles (Britain), Alan Colin Dickie, Mary Elizabeth Dickie, Christopher Arthur Dickie and Emily Beth Dickie (all Britain), Kristie Jean Finnegan and Kaylee Ann Finnegan (both South Africa), Ruth Michal Foerg (Germany), Sarah-Jane Green (Britain), Robert Hardie (Britain), Nathalie Josephine Huston (Netherlands), Chalwe Kasongo (Zambia), Rani Ajit Kaur (India), Joydeep Kaur (India) Ji Ho Kim, Seulji Kim and Yeonji Kim (all Korea), Ampili Elizabath Mathews (India), Sophie Jayne Mills (Britain), Garth Leonard Muller (South Africa), Gamze O'Neill (Turkey), Anna Ory (Hungary), Pramit Patel (Fiji), Karen Phillips (Britain), Alina Polkova (Ukraine), Jenna Christy Scott (South Africa), Steve Seo (Korea), Keshni Jotika Sharma (Fiji), Soo Gyung Shin and Seukmin Shin (both Korea), Vasana Sirimanee (Thailand), Jeffrey Kenray Smith and Lisa Flammia Smith (both United States), Yohana Stella (Indonesia), Estrella Ruiz Supas-Milne (Philippines) and Danie Cornelius Van Dyk (South Africa).
