Porirua welcomed 70 new citizens to the city at a citizenship ceremony on Monday night, representing 53 families and 21 different nationalities.
The new citizens came from countries across the Pacific, Asia, Africa, Europe and the Americas, including American Samoa, Algeria, Bangladesh, Brazil, Chile, China, England, Germany, India, Kenya, Kiribati, Pakistan, the Philippines, Samoa, Singapore, Solomon Islands, South Africa, Thailand, Tonga, the United Kingdom and the United States.
“Citizenship tonight another 70 candidates, 53 families from 21 nationalities were sworn in. Welcome to Porirua,” said Mayor Anita Baker.
Porirua City Councillor Ross Leggett also attended the ceremony.
Citizenship ceremonies mark the final step in becoming a New Zealand citizen, with participants taking an oath or affirmation of allegiance before receiving their citizenship certificate.
For the 70 people sworn in this week, the ceremony marked a new chapter as citizens of New Zealand and members of the Porirua community.
