Central Otago District Mayor Tamah Alley greeted the new citizens in their native languages, and told them it was an honour they chose to live in New Zealand as they literally had the world to choose from.
One of the new citizens who chose New Zealand was Gagandeep Sharma from Chandigarh, India.
In a first for Ms Alley, Mr Sharma delivered his citizenship affirmation in te reo.
It was a connection with Maori culture, and his Hindu faith that inspired him to read the affirmation in Te reo Māori.
Mr Shama said growing up in his village in India, they had a connection to the land, they consider the land a mother.
In Māori tradition, the land is also considered a mother, he said.
"I always wanted to do this in Te reo Māori, because I feel connection with the land, which is [a] really strong connection."
Mr Sharma, read his affirmation in the presence of his wife Priyanka and their two children.
It was not until 2000 that he got to see New Zealand’s landscape in the Bollywood film Kaho Naa ... Pyaar Hai which was filmed extensively around Queenstown.
He knew he had to eventually see the landscapes for himself.
In 2009, Mr Sharma arrived in New Zealand on a student visa, studying at Whitireia Community Polytechnic in Auckland.
Mr Sharma finally got to see Queenstown in 2011, where he worked in hospitality and tourism for eight years, during this time he got married, had his wife move to New Zealand and got permanent residency.
His journey in Central Otago began in 2020, when he and his wife decided to start their own business.
Now Mr Sharma and his family own a home and three businesses in Central Otago.
Ms Alley said it was great to see Mr Sharma read the citizenship affirmation in te reo.
The moment was made more exciting by the fact that Mr Sharma’s wife and two children were there as well, she said.
Other new citizens included:
Irfaaz Zaahid Mohammed and Roheen Raza (Fiji), Michelle Schend (Germany). Margaret Louise Barbour (Northern Ireland), Austin Black (Northern Ireland), Rema Grace Beldad Peralta (Philippines), Caitlin Rose Gordon (South Africa), Meagan Campher, Quinlan Campher and Mariette Morkel (South Africa), Andries Cornelius Kemp and Josephine Kemp (South Africa), Bianca Kotze, Gerbrand Antonie Kotze, Jan Johannes Kotze and Michaela-Lee Kotze (South Africa), Maria Jesus Boixareu Montero (Spain), Chelsey Hobbs (United Kingdom), Michael-Thomas Charles Vellacott (United Kingdom).
