17 new citizens welcomed to Aotearoa-South Wairarapa

Some 17 new citizens of Aotearoa/New Zealand were welcomed to South Wairarapa in mid-August at Martinborough’s Waihinga Centre by Mayor Martin Connelly and council CEO Janice Smith.

The new citizens came from the United Kingdom, Republic of Ireland, Palestine, Saudia Arabia,

Germany, the Philippines, Cambodia, Kazakhstan, Fiji, Serbia, Switzerland and Sweden.

All were given a kowhai tree to plant as a mark of respect to the native flora of Aotearoa and to

signify them planting their roots in this country. The young trees were cultivated at He Kōtare Native Nursery in Featherston, which is run by the Pae Tū Mōkai o Tauira charitable trust, which works to revitalise Wairarapa Moana.

The ceremony began with the mayor paying homage to the mana whenua, the first people to call

Aotearoa their home. He then thanked Matua Abe from Kohunui Marae for his welcome.

“This is the first time I have welcomed new citizens from Saudia Arabia, the Philippines, Cambodia, Fiji, Serbia or Sweden. I am absolutely delighted to help you complete your journey to becoming a citizen here today,” Connelly told the group.

“On a personal note, it is also a special day for me. One of the new citizens is my wife, Tania, who

came from Dublin many years ago and last year decided that she had left becoming a citizen far too

long. We both know from first-hand experience how difficult it can be to get citizenship,” he added.

Congratulations to everyone who has managed it.”

The ceremony included 11 new citizens to the South Wairarapa as well as four from Carterton and

two from Palmerston North.

The ceremony ended with welcoming paramanawa (refreshments).