Fourteen new citizens were officially welcomed to the Waitomo District at a citizenship ceremony on Tuesday.

Originally spread across the globe, from India, Samoa, Latvia, United Kingdom and Fiji, the latest New Zealand citizens were addressed by Waitomo District Mayor, John Robertson and welcomed to the district on Tuesday 22 February 2023.

Mayor Robertson says it was wonderful to have citizenship ceremonies back in person again after a long absence.

“We haven’t held a ceremony in person since before COVID, and during that time new citizens have been receiving their citizenship through the mail which doesn’t have the same sense of occasion.

“To be able to celebrate this occasion with our new citizens in person again is wonderful.”

This public ceremony is an important step in the process of becoming a New Zealand citizen, and it gives new citizens a chance to share the experience of being welcomed into our community with their friends and families.