Wairoa welcomed its newest Kiwis at an official citizenship ceremony last week.

It was an honour to present Travis Minter, Douglas Mason, Sara Mason, Milia Kushner and Nora Lee with their certificates of New Zealand citizenship by completing the formal citizenship ceremony and welcoming them as New Zealand citizens.

As Mayor I welcomed these people to Wairoa on behalf of the Government, the people of New Zealand in general, and the citizens of Wairoa District in particular.

These new citizens took the Oath of Allegiance to Her Majesty the Queen and completed the necessary formalities to make them citizens of New Zealand.

It takes great courage to leave the country of your birth, and it takes even greater wisdom to call New Zealand and Wairoa your home.”

I reflect on the recent words of our Prime Minister which are so appropriate right now, ‘We are a proud nation of more than 200 ethnicities, 160 languages, and amongst that diversity, we share common values.

Family and friends also gathered at Wairoa District Council’s Chambers to share in the ceremony.

Originally from County Wicklow in the Irish Republic, Nora Lee has been in New Zealand for 22 years.

She said her husband and children are all kiwis and she feels a greater sense of connection to her family and to New Zealand now.

“My family here and at home in Ireland would be delighted for me, that I can legitimately call myself a kiwi and be a proud All Blacks supporter now too.”

“I’ve spent most of my life in New Zealand raising my family and working on the farm, and I’ve only now just started a new career at the Wairoa Hospital which is great too.”

“Wairoa is the ideal place to raise a family, and I couldn’t have come to a better place to call home.”

It was great to be able to welcome these Kiwis to our town and Mrs Lee’s comments in particular sum up what we as a Council are trying to achieve.

8 April 2019

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