Waipā’s new citizens with mayor Susan O’Regan outside the Cambridge Town Hall after the citizenship ceremony on Friday. Photo: Mary Anne Gill
Fashion statements in praise of the countries new citizens have come from and the country which they now call home have become an integral part of the Waipā citizenship ceremonies.
Bright colours and Kiwi fashion designers had their moment in the sun at the third of this year’s citizenship ceremonies held in the Cambridge Town Hall.
Seventy seven New Zealanders sang the national anthem in Māori and English accompanied by Australian pianist Joy Hood.
Mayor Susan O’Regan welcomed them acknowledging some new citizens had gone through struggles to get to New Zealand but they could now call two places home, she said.
“We have a lot to learn from you.”
Waikato Regional Council policy analyst Susan Brennan came to New Zealand from Pennsylvania in the United States when she was 12 but her soft north eastern American accent is still obvious.
Finally becoming a Kiwi after more than 40 years was the right thing to do, the Pirongia resident said.
Albert Ocay, a nurse for Corrections, came from the Philippines six years ago and lives in Te Awamutu with wife Genevieve – yet to take the citizenship plunge herself – and their New Zealand born daughter Hiraya, 2.
Totoo Tekee and Memeri Berenan have lived in Cambridge for 10 years and are originally from Kiribati in the central Pacific Ocean.
Totoo Tekee and Memeri Berenan of Cambridge are now New Zealand citizens. Photo: Mary Anne Gill
American Susan Brennan of Pirongia finally celebrates becoming a Kiwi with husband Greg and daughter Fiona. Photo: Mary Anne Gill.
New Kiwi citizen Albert Ocay of Te Awamutu with wife Genevieve and Hiraya, 2, after the Waipā Citizenship Ceremony. Photo: Mary Anne Gill.
The new citizens were: Tracy Ann Aldridge (South Africa), Githesh Balakrishnan (India), Armando Ricafort Bautista (Philippines), Nafiza Bi (Fiji), Lana Botha (South Africa), Dirk Cornelius Botha (South Africa), Liam Dirk Botha (South Africa), Delia May Botha (South Africa), Michael Weir Bowler (United Kingdom), Myca Maravilla Bowler (Philippines), Susan Hathaway Brennan (United States of America), Alison Jane Brown (United Kingdom), Verity Jane Brown (England), Donald Stephen Conway (United Kingdom), David William Cork (United Kingdom), Heather Kate Cork (United Kingdom), Deepika Devi (Fiji), Andrew Malcolm Donaldson (Zimbabwe), Tanya Donaldson (Zimbabwe), Scott Pat Donaldson (Zimbabwe), Tyla-Shae Donaldson (Zimbabwe), Dawn Elizabeth Gower (England), Sinead Helen Hill (England), Carol Howard (South Africa), Dennis Trevor Howard (South Africa), Edaine Esguerra Ignacio (Philippines), Lady Geniel Juit Juban (Philippines), Navjeet Kaur (India), Leonie Marie Kelly (Ireland), Abigail Lawrence (England), Amanda Dawn Livingston (United Kingdom), Frank Alfred Lott (United Kingdom), Tina Manker (Germany).
Jorge Alberto Martinez Padilla (Mexico), Bernardina Maria Miller (South Africa), Deborah Tracy Moore (United Kingdom), Brian Patrick Murphy (Ireland), Selma Murphy (United Kingdom), Jan Albertson Lagare Ocay (Philippines), Brian Edmund Palmer (England), Lisa Christina Scranney Palmer (United Kingdom), Stefano Panaia (Italy), Aline Oliveira Panaia (Brazil), Cameron Wayne Parker (South Africa), Andrea Elaine Parker (South Africa), Mason Adrian Parker (South Africa), Alpesh Vitthalbhai Patel (Kenya), Bhartiben Maheshbhai Patel (India), Mahesh Thakorlal Patel (India), Abhinesh Shaylendra Prasad (Fiji), John Punch (Ireland), Joanne Punch (United Kingdom), Emilia Elise Rose (India), Lucinda Jane Rose (Australia), Amit Prakash Sharma (Fiji), Giles Anton Sharman (United Kingdom), Jacqueline Ann Sharman (United Kingdom), Gurwinder Singh (India), Ramandeep Kaur (India), Amanda Louise Smith (United Kingdom), Stephen Edward Smith (United Kingdom), Gloria Stefani Ventimiglia Sondakh (Indonesia), Sri Sundari (Indonesia), Totoo M Tekee (Kiribati), Memeri Berenan (Kiribati), Emma Eleni Theochari-Mitchell (England), Hartmut Richard Leonard Wendt (South Africa), Michael Peter Williams (United States of America), Alanna Jean Zantingh (Canada).
Waipā’s new citizens with mayor Susan O’Regan outside the Cambridge Town Hall after the citizenship ceremony on Friday. Photo: Mary Anne Gill
