Twenty-nine people became New Zealand citizens at a ceremony at the Dunedin Town Hall yesterday, watched on by friends and family.
Among the new Kiwis were Aotoa Tulaga and her son, Suiola Taliala, originally from Tuvalu.
Mrs Tulaga said their family arrived in New Zealand for work about 12 years ago, initially settling in Auckland.
Their family — her, her husband and their seven children — moved south to Dunedin about three years ago as one of her sons had secured work on the new Dunedin hospital project.
She was thrilled yesterday after ‘‘a long journey’’ to New Zealand citizenship.
‘‘We thank God.’’
Mr Taliala said it felt really good to receive New Zealand citizenship, although he did find Dunedin cold.
They would be celebrating the occasion with family.
Dunedin Mayor Sophie Barker led the ceremony and said she was ‘‘doubly pleased’’ with the new New Zealanders, ‘‘for as well as choosing to take up New Zealand citizenship, you have also selected our city of Dunedin in which to make your home’’, she said.
‘‘I bring from my council the warmest of welcomes to your new country and to our city. On behalf of your fellow citizens of Dunedin, I wish you well as you embark on what is for many of you a new beginning in a new life.’’
The new citizens were — Panagiota Penny Allan (Australia), Frances Andrade Baeumer (United States), Boris Baeumer (Germany), Liam Thomas Campbell (Scotland), Carmen Azores Cannan (Philippines), Shaun Clayton (United Kingdom), Jennifer Elizabeth Dustow (Canada), Kateryna Galogre (Ukraine), Yelyzaveta Yudkina (Ukraine), Vanda Marilia Filipe Gilbert (South Africa), Muirice James Gilbert (South Africa), Callen Muirice Gilbert (South Africa), Malia Filipe Gilbert (South Africa), Christopher James Goodwin (United Kingdom), Grace Joanna Hards (United Kingdom), Joerg Markus Hoehn (Germany), Susanne Hutchings (Germany), Katherine Anne Marcar (United States), Iqbal Mohammed Shah (Fiji), Krisina Kasrin Shah (Fiji), Zahara Fatima Shah (Fiji), Kim Dorette Strydom (South Africa), Gert Johannes Jacobus Strydom (South Africa), Haley Strydom (South Africa), Hazel Takacs (England), Suiola Taliala (Tuvalu), Aotoa Tulaga (Tuvalu), Nicholas Harry Stafford Thompson (United Kingdom).
