"It’s a New Zealand style, but a Samoan pattern," the 31-year-old meat processor, of Dunedin, said.
In a way, so is his family.
Mr Paulo was one of about 70 new New Zealanders welcomed at a citizenship ceremony at the Fullwood Room of the Dunedin Centre yesterday afternoon.
With him was his Samoan-New Zealander wife Mary and their son Paul Jnr.
Their children Monalisa (6), who attends St Bernadette’s School, and Leonardo (3), who goes to pre-school at St Clair, both went to school yesterday instead of attending the ceremony where their father joined the rest of the family as a New Zealander.
However, there would be a family barbecue in the evening as a celebration of the day, he said.
At yesterday’s ceremony Mr Paulo was given a New Zealand citizenship certificate and a kowhai tree.
While he had not decided where he would plant it, he said he cherished it.
"I love it," Mr Paulo said. "As I watch it grow up, I will remember the time I got this one [the certificate].
"It’s a big thing for me."
A diverse group pledged allegiance to the King and to observe the laws of New Zealand.
Dunedin Mayor Jules Radich officiated.
New citizens — Oluwatomide Adeayo Adebowale (South Africa), Taiwo Olayemi Adebowale (Nigeria), Oluwatunmise Adesodun Adebowale (Nigeria), Hanan Hisham Akkam (Syrian Arab Republic), Faeza Khodr (Syrian Arab Republic), Rimaa Hesham Akkam (Syrian Arab Republic), Aicha Mohamad Dwara (Syrian Arab Republic), Malakeh Hisham Akkam (Syrian Arab Republic), Fouad Nour Eddin Mohamad Ghanam (Syrian Arab Republic), Yazan Mohamad Ghanam (Syrian Arab Republic), Hussien Mohamad Ghanam (Syrian Arab Republic), Christine Janet Smith (Australia), Stephaney Allerston (United Kingdom), Michael Kenneth Allerston (United Kingdom), Jago Phoenix Allerston (United Kingdom), Finnlay Jay Benedict Allerston (United Kingdom), Charlotte Araminta Burns (United Kingdom), Renu Anand (India), Katie Rhiannon Anderson (Wales), Mackenzie Jason Archer (Australia), Lorna Ann Canham (United Kingdom), Michael Arthur Gibbens (United Kingdom), Vanessa Clark (Canada), Joan Constantine (Scotland), Yvonne Lesley Covey (England), Kenneth Nigel Covey (England), Heidi Dohn (Denmark), Kankanamalage Chamila Samanthi Ekanayake (Sri Lanka), Indujeeva Keerthilal Peiris (Sri Lanka), Nethmi Amandha Peiris (Sri Lanka), Nevin Ranjiv Peiris (Sri Lanka), Nisal Sanjiv Peiris (Sri Lanka), Ge Feng (China), Lisa Kerry Gustafson (South Africa), Daniel Terence Harmes (United Kingdom), Thomas Michael Hoefer (Germany), Madusha Lakmali Kaluarachchi (Sri Lanka), Mahamendige Gayan Manoj Mendis (Sri Lanka), Mahamendige Isali Senya Mendis (New Zealand), Mahamendige Viduna Evin Mendis (Sri Lanka), Aisha Khatoon (India), Aiswarya Kovanur Kesava (India), Faeamani Lokotui (Tonga), Vijay Kumar Mallan (Malaysia), Joseph Mandel Dela Cruz Manatad (Philippines), Matthew Stephen McCann (Northern Ireland), Charlotte Emily McGovern (United Kingdom), Jason Ng Ngo (Philippines), Robert Odolinski (Sweden), Edith Jean O’Neill (United States of America), Semu Paulo (Samoa), Terence Vincent Pollitt (United Kingdom), Veronica Dean Preston (South Africa), Alexandra Mary Rawling (Canada), Suzanne Joyce Rowe (England), Peter James Rowe (England), Timothy James Rowe (England), Katharine Elizabeth Rowe (Scotland), Harriet Grace Rowe (Scotland), Gursewak Singh Sapal (India), Rebecca Dawn Schumann (United States of America), Nio Jair Dumaguita Sevilla (United Arab Emirates), Hayloon Lee Darl Regino Sevilla (Philippines), Tautele Tuigamala (Samoa), Frances Tuigamala (Samoa), Epi Uliulileava (Samoa), Mikaele Cornelius Vaeau (Samoa), and Johanna Zellmer (Germany).
