Happy tears were shed in Alexandra last month as friends and family gathered to welcome the region’s newest citizens.
Twenty people became citizens in a ceremony conducted by Central Otago District Mayor Tim Cadogan in the council chambers.
Emotions were high as they made their pledge after Mr Cadogan read out their reasons for moving to New Zealand and deciding to take the step of a new nationality.
As they performed a haka to mark her new citizenship, there was barely a dry eye in the room.
It was "special" to see the children perform a haka which she had helped teach them, Mrs Hopkins said.
She came to New Zealand as a 3-year-old from Bristol, United Kingdom, by ship — a journey which took five weeks.
"You don’t know what you’ve got ‘till you see it from an outside [perspective]," she said.
"My overseas travel made me realise that I am, in my head and my heart, a Kiwi and I’m proud to say I am from New Zealand."
The ceremony concluded with a waiata sung by Alexandra Primary School pupils, and the national anthem.
