It has been a long journey for Iain Ferguson to receive his New Zealand citizenship in Dunedin.
The Scotsman arrived in New Zealand in 2014 when he was taking a year off to travel, but never got on the plane to go back home.
"I just fell in love with the place," he said.
"I arrived with a suitcase and now I’ve got a mortgage, two dogs, a relationship and a business."
On Wednesday, he received his citizenship at the Dunedin Town Hall along with many others from all over the world.
He was embracing being a Kiwi although he was not going to lose his thick Scottish accent anytime soon, he said.
Dunedin was similar to his hometown, Edinburgh, Mr Ferguson said.
"The streets are the same, but they’re the wrong way around."
He said it was a good time to get his citizenship after waiting for more than 10 years.
The new citizens are.—
Abdo Hassoun Al Hamdoush (Syria); Sabreen N M Alsaadoni (Algeria); Dima N M Alsaadoni (Palestine); Justine Lynley Barrie (Australia); Lisa Behboudi (Iran); Mikaeel Behboudi (Iran); Najibeh Rahimi (Afghanistan); George William Bysouth (United Kingdom); Onder Cil (Turkey); Joudi Abdul Munem Dibo (Syria); Jad Abdul Munem Dibo (Syria); Joulia Abdul Munem Dibo (Syria); Jomana Nasouh Sukkarieh (Syria); Natthawaran Donlakkham (Thailand); Andrea Donne (Mexico); Benjamin James Duckett (United Kingdom); Iris Olivia Earp (United Kingdom); George Ivan Earp (United Kingdom); Iain Grant Ferguson (Scotland); Darren Fuller (England); Victoria Anne Fuller (United Kingdom); Michael Ian Gawthrop (Australia); Gebreselassie Gebreegzabher Gebreisadik (Ethiopia); Veena George (India); Nithin Jomy (India); Taslima Habiba (Bangladesh); Niamh Francesca Hartley (England); Petra Hass (Germany); John Montague Ingrams (England); Seoyeon Kim (China); Liselle Kirby (United Kingdom); Petra Knights (Germany); Vijayan Kumaran Kalathil (India); Sarasamma Vijayan (India); Jared Anthony
Long (Singapore); Alixandra Rose Long (Singapore); Jochen Herbert Maierl (Germany); Christine Martina Maierl (Germany); Jonas Benjamin Maierl (Germany); Angus John Martin (Australia); Johan Hendrik Taute Mills (South Africa); Daniel Johannes Mills (South Africa); Johan Hendrik Taute Mills (South Africa); Annelie Mills (South Africa); Alanah Jade Owen (Wales); Petra Pavlova (Czech Republic); Hans Jorg Pietsch (Germany); Nagaraju Racharla (India); Richard Roberts (England); Louise Elizabeth Roberts (England); Jasmin Samillano Roldan (Philippines); Emma Jane St Pierre (Australia); Joyce Zi Yi Tang (Malaysia); Keefe Fu Haow Ting (Malaysia); Janina Thies (Germany); Karl Jeno Toppler (Australia); Tevita Hale Nai Tuuhoko (Tonga); Anne Katrin Wellnitz (Germany); Unaiza Akram (Pakistan); Safaa Mahmoud Al Abdallah (Syria); Faten Khamis Al Ayed (Syria); Hani Ahmad Al Helal (Syria); Mariana Hani Al Helal (Syria); Mirna Hani Al Helal (Syria); Ibrahim Hani Al Helal (Syria); Julia Nina Albrecht (Germany); Leisarah Fuifui Anthony Kosena (Samoa); Katherine Melencion Astilla (Philippines); Meier Kairo Astilla (New Zealand); Manuelito Mendoza Astilla (Philippines); Aidan William Bamforth (England); Florian Beyer (Germany); William John Bourne (United Kingdom); Tess Arianne Brais-Laflamme (Canada); Rebecca Elaine Campbell (United States); Jedd Irvyn Moreno Castañeda (Philippines); Ingrid Joy Calingin Moreno (Philippines); Heike
Cebulla-Elder (Germany); Seth Julius Dickinson (England); Charlotte Dowson-Trevathan (United Kingdom); Marcelo D’Souza (India); Ursula Ellenberg (Germany); Daniela Erdmann (Germany); Karen Ferraccioli (Italy); Gian Luca Ventresca (Italy); Gregorio Ventresca (Italy); Amedeo Ventresca (Italy); Alapati Fiapati (Tuvalu); Ana Malia Soita Niutao Finau (Tonga); Iunisi Talave Moe Loto Ki Velata Finau (Tonga); June Percival Finau (Tonga); Yue Fu (China); Eliza Jani (India); Jaquline Merli Joseph (India); Sarah Jutel (Germany); Manon Francoise Fabienne Marie Knapen (Belgium); Gisela May Gempis Kolimlim (Philippines); Sonam Tseten Lama (Nepal); Jone Rabici Leko (Fiji); Marianne Leudet De La Vallee-Foster (France); Andrew James Lindsell (Australia); John Cameron McAndrew (United Kingdom); Stefan Meyer (Germany); Kathryn Hilary Morris (England); Phoebe Suat Hong Neo (Singapore); Peter Locke Tsing Wong (Singapore); Ata Obetaia (Kiribati); Biljana Pešun (Croatia); Lin Qu (China); Julian Elton Randall (South Africa); Stefan Reussenzehn (Germany); Jaspar Schonleben (Germany); Simone Katja Schönleben (Germany); Jessica Arraya Sammons (United Kingdom); Adri Steenekamp (South Africa); Willem Jacobus Steenekamp (South Africa); Qi Sun (China); Locke Jean-Luc Unhold (United States); Pannirselvam Velu (Malaysia); Hero Jun Ritardo Villar (Philippines).
The ODT agreed not to name two other people who gained citizenship yesterday.
mark.john@odt.co.nz
