Waipā welcomed 108 new Kiwis at a heartwarming citizenship ceremony at the
Cambridge Town Hall yesterday, with people from all over the world taking the next
step in calling Aotearoa home.
The group included people from all walks of life and from far and wide including
Namibia, Ukraine, Zimbabwe, the Netherlands, Pakistan, Poland, Malta, France and
the United Kingdom.
Waipā Mayor Susan O’Regan led the ceremony and encouraged the new citizens to
proudly bring their culture, language, and traditions with them into their new
communities.
“New Zealand can feel a long way from anywhere but becoming a New Zealand
citizen doesn’t cut ties to your home”, she said. “We are richer for your culture, we
want to know your stories and where you came from. Sharing your background will
enrich your communities.”
Te Awamutu local Laveena Kaithakumble, originally from India, shared her
appreciation. “I’m so grateful for this beautiful country. It’s an amazing and proud
feeling to now be a citizen.”
The Pearson family from the United Kingdom also became citizens after living in
Cambridge for the past 18 years.
“We moved here when our kids were just two, four, and six,” said Eileen Pearson. “We were looking for a different lifestyle and a bit of an adventure - we found both
and never looked back.”
Another proud new citizen was Siraj Ui Islam from Pakistan, who moved to New
Zealand nine years ago with his wife, Petra Khan from Egypt.
“Kiwis have always been kind and polite. I’ve never felt unwelcomed. We also love
New Zealand’s nature, we even got ourselves a caravan to explore it,” Siraj said.
“Whenever I go back to Pakistan, I miss New Zealand.”
All new citizens received a kōwhai tree, a gift symbolising growth, renewal, and the
roots they’re putting down in Aotearoa.
Waipā District hosts three citizenship ceremonies a year, with each one limited to
110 people by the Department of Internal Affairs. The next ceremonies are
scheduled for August and November.
