Citizenship figures requested from the Queenstown Lakes District Council and the Department of Internal Affairs for the past three years show an increasing trend in the number of new Kiwis from all corners of the globe and the number of ceremonies held in council chambers.
Records showed 94 people became citizens in 2011: 44 males and 50 females.
This was an increase from 82 people (46 males, 36 females) in 2010.
The number was also up from 67 (37 males and 30 females) in 2009.
The council recorded 60 of the 94 new citizens last year were British, as well as one person Australian-British and one British-Irish.
Of the 82 people who became citizens in 2010, 42 were from England, two were from Scotland and one was from Northern Ireland.
In 2009, 31 of 67 were from England.
Americans were the second most common nationality to adopt New Zealand as their home. There were seven citizens from the United States last year, seven in 2010, and six in 2009.
Four Germans were naturalised in 2011, up from three in 2010 and two in 2009.
There was just one new citizen from South Africa, down significantly from nine in 2010 and four in 2009.
Among South Americans who became New Zealand citizens were three Brazilians in 2011, one Argentinian and one Venezuelan in 2010, and none in 2009.
Only one Australian became a New Zealander in Queenstown last year.
Individuals from Afghanistan, Fiji, Israel, Jamaica, Malaysia, the Netherlands, Poland, Singapore, South Korea and Uganda also became New Zealand citizens in the three-year snapshot, as did people from Canada (two), China (two), France (two), India (eight), Ireland (six), Philippines (five), Sweden (three), Switzerland (three), Thailand (six), Tonga (two) and Zimbabwe (three).
Queenstown Lakes Mayor Vanessa van Uden presides at every ceremony. Asked to comment on the findings this week, Ms van Uden said in a statement: "The increasing numbers are a reflection of the fact that Queenstown is a great place to live, work and play, especially for families.
"We already have a diverse community and because of our strong tourist industry are gracious hosts."
