Mr Scott said the citizenship ceremony was one of his favourite parts of his role as mayor.
"The blended array of cultures here was so great."
Mr Scott emigrated from South Africa to New Zealand when he was 8 years old.
"I’ve actually been in your shoes myself 36 years ago. And I know first hand the significance of today as you formally become a citizen of our beautiful country."
New Zealand offered many opportunities to those who worked hard and got involved.
Denisa Gibalova had arrived in New Zealand from Slovakia 15 years ago to travel the country and visit friends.
But she ended up falling in love with the country and her Kiwi husband Geoff Barnes, of Te Anau.
She loved the kindness and friendless she experienced from Kiwis.
"It reminds me a little bit of Slovakian people as well. I love that Kiwis don’t stress much — laidback."
The country also reminded her of home which also had a small population. "It’s very safe. You can leave your cars unopened, your house open — most of the time."
She was particularly impressed with how the Te Anau community took care of each other.
"Everyone is helping each other. It’s just amazing what a community can do. When people get sick, or if you are going through something, the word goes and out people will bring you food. So it’s a really nice community."
While she had kept her maiden name after marrying in New Zealand last year, she was in the process of changing it, now her citizenship was finalised.
The freshly minted citizens finished off the official part of their ceremony by singing the national anthem for the first time after being welcomed by the Central Southland College Kapa Haka group.
By Toni McDonald
