Among them was Adina Radu, originally of Romania.
Her family moved to Gore five years ago for better job opportunities and she has not looked back.
The first in her family to gain citizenship, getting a passport was the catalyst for her decision, but it did not make her any less proud to be able to go out for "Kiwi drinks" with her flatmates in celebration last night.
When she left high school, she moved to Dunedin to study at the University of Otago.
She enjoyed the relaxed lifestyle and though unsure where her double commerce degree in marketing and tourism would take her, she hoped to stay in the city.
"I love the community. I enjoy Dunedin," she said.
Dunedin Mayor Peter Chin said the new citizens represented the "increasingly diverse culture" of New Zealand.
He also hoped for mutual understanding and respect as different cultures were shared.
Other new citizens in Dunedin were. -Ruth Goodwin, of Zimbabwe; Selina Ling, of China; Shoaleh Anderson, of Iran; Ian and Heather Dyke, of Britain; Peter Fenton, of Australia; Aubrey and Lola Gloger, of South Africa; Jiayi Hu, of China; Pan Lei, of China; Ashim and Aaron Maharjan, of Nepal; Michael Montgomery, of Britain; Daniel Nemeschansky, of Britain; Errol, Diana, Kirstin and Keegan Reid, of South Africa; Stewart Stevens, of Britain; and Joel Vanderburg, of America.
