Becoming a New Zealand citizen is often a family affair and that was the case for the Jade family of Cambridge last week.
On the Cambridge Town Hall steps waiting to go in were, from left: Nikita, Mrunalini, Mahendra and Nikhil Jade with mother, Ashalata Sonunis. Photo: Mary Anne Gill
Mrunualini, Mahendra and Nikita have waited 21 years since they left India to become fully fledged Kiwis and they were joined by supporters Nikhil Jade and Ashalata Sanunis in the Cambridge Town Hall for the latest Waipā Citizenship awards.
Waipā hosts three citizenship ceremonies a year, with each one limited to 110 people by the Department of Internal Affairs. The next ceremonies are scheduled for August and November.
David Karrol, now working at Waitomo District Council as Three Waters manager is now a Kiwi. The Te Awamutu resident is pictured with wife Sharon inside the Cambridge Town Hall. Photo: Mary Anne Gill
David Karrol is another who has waited several years. The Waitomo District Council Three Waters manager lives in Te Awamutu but has worked around the country since 1997 having moved from Papua New Guinea.
And Jace Cauilan got a head start on his Filipino parents Princess and Jeremy of Cambridge. He was born in New Zealand and was already a citizen.
Waipā welcomed 108 new Kiwis with the United Kingdom topping the table with 27 – more when you consider the five Scots and two English – while South Africa had 21.
New citizens: 108 people became New Zealanders and packed Cambridge Town Hall with friends and family. Photo: Mary Anne Gill
India had 11, United States 7, Philippines 5, Australia, Germany and China 4, Fiji and Vietnam 2 and one each from France, Malta, Mauritius, Namibia, Netherlands, New Zealand, Pakistan, Papua New Guinea, Poland, Trinidad and Tobago, Ukraine, Vanuatu and Zimbabwe.
Waipā mayor Susan O’Regan led the ceremony and encouraged the new citizens to proudly bring their culture, language, and traditions with them into their new communities.
Te Awamutu local Laveena Kaithakumble, originally from India, shared her appreciation. “I’m so grateful for this beautiful country. It’s an amazing and proud feeling to now be a citizen.”
The Pearson family from the United Kingdom also became citizens after living in Cambridge for the past 18 years.
“We moved here when our kids were just two, four, and six,” said Eileen Pearson. “We were looking for a different lifestyle and a bit of an adventure – we found both and never looked back.”
Another proud new citizen was Siraj Ui Islam from Pakistan, who moved to New Zealand nine years ago with his wife, Petra Khan from Egypt.
“Kiwis have always been kind and polite. I’ve never felt unwelcomed. We also love New Zealand’s nature, we even got ourselves a caravan to explore it,” Siraj said. “Whenever I go back to Pakistan, I miss New Zealand.”
All new citizens received a kōwhai tree, a gift symbolising growth, renewal, and the roots they’re putting down in Aotearoa.
The new citizens are:
Olivia Le, Michael, Ada and Olive Dawson (Australia), Vikas Mohan (Bahrain), Derek Christopher Da Cruz, Martin Anthony Da Cruz, Shunyin Zhu, Yongjun Zhu (China), Ann Webb, Mark Norman Whiteley (England), Wasu Krishna, Grace Daunisalusalu Kunekalougata Tamani (Fiji), Lola Charlotte Emilienne Aubert (France) Milla Felice Gansel (Germany), Baculy Manuela Kaatz , Yvonne Petri, Lisa Maria Beate Wyllie (Germany), Renuka Chauhan, RohitChauhan, Sijo Jose, Laveena John Kaithakumble, Nazneen Bano Shaikh Husain, Neethu, Thomas, Viji Varghese Varikalathil, Mukesh, Mrunalini, Mahendra Madhukar and Nikita Jade (India), Robert Francis Hart (Malta), Pierre Maurice Nicolas Pousson (Mauritius), Cindy Lehmkuhl (Namibia), Ernst Gerardus Johannes Buhrs (Netherlands), Celeste Liamé Els (New Zealand), Siraj Ul Islam (Pakistan), David Polau Karrol (Papua New Guinea), Nina Leah Abian Alima, Christian Jeremy Pascual and Princess Imee Olviga Cauilan, Jezreel Ramizares and Jaira Mae Ramizares Alota (Philippines), Reinhard Gansel (Poland), Samuel John, Mary, Michael Patrick, Daniel John and Moya Louise Fernandez (Scotland).
Faith Anne and Roland George Booker, Jana Hart, Lourens Kyle Jonker, Leighlynn and Carl Wilhelm Lehmkuhl, Zeath Carl Lehmkuhl, Tanya Saul, Brent, Kade Saul, and Emma Wilkins, Rutgert Henry, Marelize and Mieke van de Wall, Barend Jacobus Van Niekerk, Carli Els, Renier Jean Els, Lisa O’Brien, Patricia, Elijah Kennan Niocolas and Maya Emily Greer (South Africa), Kevorn Joel Gabriel (Trinidad and Tobago), Olga Gansel (Ukraine), Robert Alan Day, Tristan John, Lauren Eva and Lucas Johan Hart, Norma Ann Hazlewood, David Alan and Anne McCarthy, Sarah Rachel Mitchell, Adrian Frank Morphet, Sophie-Alice, Mark and Eileen Mary Pearson, Jessica Kate Wright, Darren Patrick McCabe, Richard Ian and Melanie Jane Midgley, Joshua James Wood, Wendy Jayne Perko, Georgia Louise and Janette Marie Webster, Lesley Jean Wilkin, Britta Elsebeth Jensen, John Matthew, Shirley Joan, Anthony Joseph John, Alexander Charles Edward and Charlotte Naomi Warrington (United Kingdom).
Anh Ngoc Vo Colquhoun, Clara Riley, Arielle Smith and Richarge George Hartman, Adina Joslyn Smith, Jay Delo Shelgren, Yuriko Shiratori (United States of America), Nicholsen Isaiah (Vanuatu), Huynh Nhu Cao, Van Tuong Le (Viet Nam), Shelley-Ann Van Niekerk (Zimbabwe).
On the Cambridge Town Hall piazza, from left Jeremy, Jace, 4, and Princess Cauilan from the Philippines but now living in Cambridge. Photo: Mary Anne Gill
Waipā Mayor Susan O’Regan with the new citizens at the Cambridge Town Hall. Photo:Waipa District Council
