A diverse range of backgrounds were highlighted during the ceremony, at which three British, one Australian, a Russian, and a Zimbabwe national declared their allegiance to the Queen.
Central Otago Mayor Malcolm Macpherson and his wife Susan conducted the ceremony, presenting each citizen with formal documents.
"All New Zealanders come from somewhere else and the only difference is from where and how long back. We may have come from different ships but we're all in the same boat now," Dr Macpherson said.
He said citizenship ceremonies were a symbolic cutting of ties, as well as the embracing of a new life.
While reading about each citizen his wife said Cromwell resident Evgeniya Ushakova, of Russia, met her New Zealand husband, who was a rugby player, while they were both in Tokyo and Mrs Ushakova was a performer at Tokyo Disneyland.
Husband and wife Garnet and Jean Bonsor, now of Alexandra, are from Zimbabwe and Britain respectively.
Mike Fraser was 3 when his family moved from northern Scotland to New Zealand, while Lesley Pocknee, of Australia, flatted with a New Zealander in Sydney 33 years ago and fell in love with Central Otago on a visit.
Jude Redshaw, of Britain, moved to Alexandra 10 years ago.
Kowhai trees were given to each of the latest New Zealanders.
