The 90 new citizens in front of the Cambridge Town Hall after the ceremony on Friday with mayor Susan O’Regan and Taupō MP Louise Upston. Photo: Mary Anne Gill.
Ninety Waipā residents were sworn in on Friday as New Zealand residents in the second of two citizenship ceremonies held this year.
Nearly a third were from South Africa prompting mayor Susan O’Regan to enlist the support of council staff for help with pronunciations. Council Human Resources business partner David Dugmore was one of the 29 South Africans to swear their allegiance to King Charles III.
Next was the United Kingdom with 26 followed by India, Brazil, Philippines, Australia and Pakistan.
Countries with one new Kiwi each were Ecuador, Vietnam, Iran, Taiwan, China, Germany, Ireland and the Netherlands.
The ceremony was held in a packed Cambridge Town Hall.
Brazilian family Fabiana De Alemeida, Sergio, 12, Helena, 14 and Miguel Hiraoka have been in Te Awamutu for eight years. Miguel works at APL Window Solutions in Hautapu, Cambridge.
New citizens, from left Fabiana De Alemeida, Sergio, 12, Miguel and Helena, 14, Hiraoka of Te Awamutu at the Waipā citizenship ceremony. Photo: Mary Anne Gill.
McKenzie Bird, 7, of Cambridge Primary School proudly welcomed the rest of her South African family to New Zealand citizenship. She watched on as parents Taryn and Gareth and brother Sebastian, 9, moved to the stage to affirm their allegiance.
Allegiance sworn, from left Taryn, Sebastian, 9, McKenzie, 7, (already a citizen), and Gareth Bird, of Cambridge. Photo: Mary Anne Gill.
And while Huma Saeed, Tasweeb, 9, Abdullah, 11, Elhuam, 5, and Muhammad Hassan recently moved from Cambridge to Palmerston North, they were in no doubt they wanted to be at the Cambridge ceremony. The family moved to New Zealand from Pakistan and Elhuam was born here.
Day trippers, from left Muhammad, Tasweeb, 9, Abdullah, 11, Hassan, and Huma Saeed with in front Elhuam Hassan, 5, have moved to Palmerston North from Cambridge but wanted to be at the Waipā Citizenship Ceremony. Photo: Mary Anne Gill.
Australian pianist Joy Hood played the national anthem with newly elected Māori ward councillor Dale-Maree Morgan apologising in advance if she sang out of tune.
“It’s the Scottish in me, not the Māori,” she joked.
Pianist Joy Hood receives a plant from council staffer Robyn Cleland at the Waipā Citizenship Ceremony. Photo: Mary Anne Gill.
The council usually provides details of where the new citizens live in Waipā but chose not to do so this time.
The new citizens are:
Bassam Amin Attallah Abdou (Egypt), Ian Joseph Baker (United Kingdom), Ryan Samuel Baker (United Kingdom), Minoo Baker (Iran, Islamic Republic of), Sean Anthony Baker (United Kingdom), Sebastian Ethan Bird (New Zealand), Gareth Neil Bird (South Africa), Taryn Lee Bird (South Africa), Louisa Daphne Botha (South Africa), Brandan Gregory Botha (South Africa), Warrick Reece Botha (South Africa), Michelle Elizabeth Boughton (Germany), Elke Brascamp (Netherlands), Thomas William Buckley (United Kingdom), Nicholas Charles Coston (England), Joanne Marie Coston (England), Thomas Charles Coston (England), Alexander John Coston (England), Alan Mark Davies (Wales), Sergio Makoto Hiraoka (Brazil), Fabiana Elisa De Almeida (Brazil), Helena Hatsue De Almeida Hiraoka (Brazil), Miguel Hisashi De Almeida Hiraoka (Brazil), Jimuel Concina Dela Cruz (Philippines), Sachin Dhamija (India), Pooja (India), David William Dugmore (South Africa), Charl Engelbrecht (South Africa), Theresa Engelbrecht (South Africa), Hua Fang (China), Ma. Meshell Baguio Galon (Philippines), Magdaleno Jr Jocson Galon (Philippines), Erika Geere (South Africa), David Geere (South Africa), Inette Geldenhuys (South Africa), Susan Elizabeth Gifford (Northern Ireland), Sukhvinder Singh Gill (India), Karen Jane Greaves (United Kingdom), Kathryn Ann Grinter (United Kingdom), Christine Jane Hall (United Kingdom), Andrew Peter Golding (United Kingdom), Muhammad Imran Hassan (Pakistan), Huma Saeed (Pakistan), Abdullah Taqi (Pakistan), Tasweeb Fatima (New Zealand), Grant Benjamin Huggins (Australia), Narelle Janine Huggins (Australia), Luke Eamon Huggins (Australia), Thai Mong Kha Huynh (Viet Nam), Gwen Elizabeth Jones (Wales), Ian Kearney (South Africa), Leoni Kearney (South Africa), James Ian Kearney (South Africa), Leah Grace Kearney (South Africa), Nadine Marie Lancaster (England), Russel Matthew Lennox (South Africa), Leonie Celeste Lennox (South Africa), Riley Brian Lennox (South Africa), Ella Jennifer Lennox (South Africa), Cassidy Georgia Lennox (South Africa), Honey Mathew (India), Sandra Claire Moore (South Africa), Campbell Kingsley Moore (South Africa), Dean Russell Glennie (South Africa), Chi Shan Niu (Taiwan), Julie Gay Acuna Omandam (Philippines), Michelle Panko (England), Paul Raymond Pini (United Kingdom), Quartney Louisa Pretorius (South Africa), Nelly Veronica Quinde Foster (Ecuador), Stephen James Remington (United Kingdom), Tracy Rowlandson (England), Claire Louise Sandy (Ireland), Matthew Neill Sandy (England), Harpreet Singh Sawara (India), Maree Ann Sharples (Australia), Dhara Shyamal (India), Simranjit (India), Birinder Pal Singh (India), Stuart Mark Smith (United Kingdom), Helen Michelle Stowell (United Kingdom), Sukhjit Singh Thabal (India), Rachael Louise Thomas (Wales), Janine van Rooyen (South Africa), Mishke van Rooyen (South Africa), Jason van Rooyen (South Africa), Willem Jacobus van Rooyen (South Africa), Zanelle van Rooyen (South Africa), Aaron Wiremu Daniel Keem West (England), Nicola Louise White (United Kingdom).
