Couples and individuals from Britain, Canada, Ireland and the Philippines declared New Zealand home in a ceremony at the Central Otago District Council chambers in Alexandra.
Central Otago District Mayor Tim Cadogan said it was an honour for the region to be chosen as a new home.
"You have chosen our country as yours and that is a great honour you have bestowed on us — because literally, you did have a world of choice."
Each new citizen had written a brief account of their journey to New Zealand, which Mr Cadogan read out.
Among the newly-accepted citizens was Chloe Ross, a medical administrator, who moved to New Zealand 10 years ago.
In her account of arriving in New Zealand, Mrs Ross described how she met New Zealander Ant Ross when they worked at a children’s outdoor centre in England.
After a year of getting to know each other, Mrs Ross decided to tag along when Mr Ross announced he may return to New Zealand.
They were married at the end of 2021, in Queenstown.
Mrs Ross said when she sent her citizenship paperwork away to be approved, she was too scared to tell anyone in case she was rejected.
She received an email confirming she had been granted citizenship two weeks after finding out she was pregnant with her family’s first child.
Other new citizens: Kate Mulholland, Chris Mulholland, Lee Hurst, Lee Sinclair, Rhiannon Hyams, James Perry, Andrew Pennington, Melanie Hall, Martin Sayer, Wendy McJarrow, Phil Quinn (Britain); Nicole Leng (Canada); Ronan Creane, Alaine Cawley (Ireland); Ruth Pacres (Philippines).
— Ruby Shaw, Cadet reporter
