Andrew and Kerrie Waterworth and their three daughters Jessica (22), Miranda (19) and Serena (15) became citizens of New Zealand at a ceremony in Dunedin yesterday.
Although Jessica did not attend the ceremony, because she was studying for her master's degree in archaeology in Durham, she was registered with her family yesterday.
The four Waterworths were joined at the ceremony by 37 other people who had chosen to make New Zealand and Dunedin home.
Mr Waterworth, head of production at NHNZ, said he could understand why young New Zealanders went abroad to make money, but most ultimately returned to bring up their families.
''Every country offers its opportunities and it is just about timing for those people.''
At 21, Mr Waterworth left England for Western Australia, on what he thought would be a temporary visit.
''My intention was to go home after six months, so I can understand why a lot of young New Zealanders want to go over there. It is an adventure.''
He then went to Sydney, where he developed a career in television that spanned more than 30 years as a reporter, presenter and producer - including presenting science television show Beyond 2000.
Mr Waterworth moved to Dunedin in 2000 for NHNZ on a three-year contract. From day one, he and his wife knew they wanted to stay for good.
The pair agreed Dunedin had been the perfect place for their three daughters' education, at Columba College.
''We find New Zealand a little softer, kinder and caring, perhaps,'' Mr Waterworth said.
Mrs Waterworth said many of their friends thought they had lost their minds when they left Sydney but when they arrived they knew the decision was right and they had not looked back since.
''We arrived at the Dunedin airport and we smelt cow poo and thought `This is great, we're in the country now'.''
She said the first winter was the hardest and they had not become any easier.
''We love the four seasons here.''
Mrs Waterworth is a lecturer in media communications at Aoraki Polytechnic and loved the city's education culture.
She said the only downfall for Dunedin was the expense of leaving for New Zealand's larger centres and also the lack of work opportunities as a journalist and actress.
The other new citizens were:
John Brown (South Africa), John Chambers (Britain), Maggie and Leon Cho (China), Sean Coffey (Ireland), Alison Copeman (Britain), Michael Furlong (US), Maha Hanna (Egypt), Leigh Harper (Britain) Jae Jo (Korea), Varghese John (India), Robin Jones (Britain), Mohinder Kaplish (India), Rumbidzai Kavhumbura (Zimbabwe), Phimchai Konsila (Thailand), Woravimol Krittaphol Bailey (Thailand), Wei Ling (Malaysia), Shinvanjali Lingam (Fiji), Aswathy Madathil Ravi (India), Suthatta McCunn (Thailand), Romain Mirosa (France), Harriet Morris (Britain), Tonya Parker (US), Preston Pigneri (US), Rhys Prescott (Britain), Dean Reaney (Britain), Kelekolio, Siuoamoa, Vaughan and Mark Sanele (Samoa), Marc Schallenberg (Canada), Tenille Simpkin (South Africa), Audrey Yan Tay (Malaysia), Romylynd Visto (Philippines), Peter Watson (South Africa), Manuweera Wickramagedara (Sri Lanka) and Zijing Yao (China).
