Seasons part of the appeal

Celebrating after the citizenship ceremony in Dunedin yesterday are June Bryan Biado (left), Elyana Martinez, new New Zealand citizen Jannah Biado, of the United Arab Emirates, and Venice Llanos. PHOTOS: GREGOR RICHARDSON

When Jannah Biado arrived in Dunedin as a teenager, the city made an immediate impression.

"It was freezing," the 22-year-old new New Zealand citizen said.

She was one of about 40 new New Zealanders welcomed at a citizenship ceremony at the Dunedin Centre yesterday afternoon.

Born and raised in Dubai, in the United Arab Emirates, Ms Biado, a Filipino national, returned to Manila in the Philippines with her family after she turned 11.

Celebrating after the citizenship ceremony in Dunedin yesterday are Carike Kelbrick (left), originally of South Africa, and Julie Carlyle, of Dunedin.

She arrived in New Zealand, specifically Dunedin, in 2017.

New Zealand’s cold temperatures and its climate, which cycled through four distinct seasons, were eye-opening.

Both the United Arab Emirates and the Philippines had two seasons, she said — "rain and summer".

However, she came to really like the four seasons on offer in her new home, including the range of temperatures.

Celebrating after the citizenship ceremony in Dunedin yesterday are Kasem Zarzar, 17, his brother \Mohammad, 11, and mother Nisrine Zarzar, originally of Syria, now of Dunedin.

"I love it.

"I love the nature.

"I grew up in a country where there are a lot of cities and buildings — and now I live in New Zealand where there are mountains and trees and plants.

"I really like it here."

Celebrating after the citizenship ceremony in Dunedin yesterday are Melanie Thompson and son Lucas Sam Dubyk, both originally of Canada.

Ms Biado is a University of Otago student working toward a bachelor of science.

Her father left New Zealand recently, but her older brother, June Bryan Biado, remained with her in Dunedin.

Mr Biado, 28, said he planned to apply for citizenship as well.

New citizens: Najah Obaid Alahmad Alabd Alokla (Syrian Arab Republic), Emad Mahmoud Alobaid Alibrahem (Syrian Arab Republic), Katia Banci (Italy), Indranil Basak (India), Benazir Jahan (India), Jannah Remorque Biado (United Arab Emirates), Kanwaljeet Singh Brar (India), Manjinder Singh Brar (India), David Keith Butler (United States of America), Rajnil Asish Chand (Fiji), Natallya Dayane Da Silva Santos Borges (Brazil), Hugo Leandro Ferreira Borges (Brazil), Lucca Ferreira da Silva Borges (New Zealand), Lucas Sam Dubyk (Canada), Melanie Dawn Thompson (Canada), Aina Isabella Ventayen Duro (Philippines), Mohammad Ghazi Kanafani (Syria), Zeinab Kallas (Syria), Zain Alldein Kanafani (Syria), Carike Kelbrick (South Africa), Faiha Kyassah (Syria), Graham Tuckey McNeill (Australia), Kathryn Partridge (England), Aubrey David Miller (United States of America), Sesilili Mate-He-Lotu Afemeimounga Moniati (Tonga), Ewan Frank Morrell (Scotland), Kathryn Buchanan Morris (Canada), Stephanus Johannes Naude (South Africa), Fintan James Nogher (England), Marc Francis Mate Oriel (Philippines), Emily Kate Schofield Peers (England), Benjamin Roy Richards (Australia), Bruce Anthony Roffey (United Kingdom), Karanbir Singh (India), Siwat Sukhonphanich (Thailand), Lilian Tang (Malaysia), Joshua Zi Wen Tang (Malaysia), Kasem Mohammad Zarzar (Syria), Nisrine Khaled Zarzar (Syria).