New citizens (from left) Zuz Thornton, England, Leon Calitz, South Africa, Claudio Viana, Brazil, Gina Stephenson, England, Dan O'Regan, Ireland, Pierson Palmer (9), United States, Sharon Oxley, US, Ross Palmer, US, Rachel Rankin, Gibraltar, Nieve...
New Queenstown Primary School pupils (all 5), pictured with Queenstown Lakes Mayor Vanessa van Uden, sang along with the New Zealand national anthem, during the citizenship ceremony yesterday. Photo by James Beech.
New chapters in life, as Kiwi citizens and as school pupils, began at the same time in Queenstown yesterday.
A total of 15 people from overseas swore their allegiance to Queen and country and received their native plants and certificates at a citizenship ceremony in the Queenstown Lakes District Council chambers.
As a special treat, 24 new 5-year-old entrants to Queenstown Primary School attended and joined in singing the national anthem.
Mayor Vanessa van Uden welcomed the new citizens to a "new life and new world in New Zealand".
To leave it all behind and become part of a new country was one of the biggest life challenges, she said.
"It can be overwhelming and it can be special, too," she said.
