Forty-two new Kiwis were sworn in at a citizenship ceremony in Napier on Monday night and afterwards were led in their new national anthem by Napier Mayor Bill Dalton's wife Shirley.
"Mrs Dalton led the anthem and had them singing nicely," mayoral assistant Yvonne Moorcock said.
The ceremony was conducted by Mayor Dalton in the Napier City Council chambers with each individual and family group being presenting with a small native kowhai tree to plant - representing the putting down of roots in their new country.
There were 13 nationalities represented, including a family of five from Uzbekistan.
British people topped the list at 15, followed by the five from Uzbekistan and five from South Africa - they too all one family.