Mr and Mrs Jonker and children Michiel and Sandri were among 24 people who swore allegiance to Queen Elizabeth II in Alexandra on Friday to become official New Zealand citizens.
Mr Jonker said they used to run a farm in South Africa but decided to leave about eight years ago because of the unstable political system under which the farm could have been taken from them.
"We were quite concerned that at some stage the farm would be taken away [from us] and we were young enough to start again ... we came here."
He said while it was hard to leave family behind, New Zealanders were welcoming.
"But I'm not quite ready to make the step to supporting the All Blacks."
Mr Jonker is now the chief executive of Pioneer Generation, Mrs Jonker cares for animals and tends the garden on their Alexandra lifestyle block, Michiel is studying towards a bachelor of information technology degree at the Southern Institute of Technology and Sandri is a year 13 pupil at Dunstan High School.
Central Otago Mayor Tony Lepper said it was the largest citizenship ceremony he knew of in Central Otago and the underlying theme bringing people to the area seemed to be the beauty of the landscape.
Another theme seemed to be dairy farming. He said there were two families who had moved to the area to take up that profession.
Other new citizens were: Tyron Dacosta, Georgina Dacosta, Keith Dacosta (12) and Tyron Dacosta (9), formerly of Zimbabwe, now of Alexandra; Tracy de Woeps, Matthew de Woeps and Charlie de Woeps (8), formerly of England, now of Naseby; Florence Gaud, formerly of France, now of Cromwell; Neil Molina, Myra Molina and Jhiro Molina (10), formerly of The Philippines, now of Ranfurly; Sie Leing Wong Sharma, formerly of Malaysia, now of Cromwell; Daniel Crawford, formerly of England, now of Cromwell; Nadia Du Plessis, Dewald Du Plessis and Nia Du Plessis (7), formerly of South Africa, now of Omakau; Natasha Hitchman and Hamish Morton, formerly of Scotland, now of Alexandra; Zoe Huggett, formerly of Britain, now of Cromwell; Jacinta Williamson, formerly of Ireland, now of Ranfurly.
