They each took an oath to obey our country's laws but they have already been out on the streets of Rotorua upholding them.
Brothers and Northern Irishmen Brian and Paul Mullen and their good mate Shane McCormack from the Irish Republic shared a special moment yesterday as the three men were presented with their New Zealand citizenship at a ceremony at the Rotorua District Council.
The trio are Rotorua police officers and took the opportunity to become citizens together in front of friends and family.
"I came here three years before my brother; I was trying to get away from them but they followed me here," Brian Mullen said.
Mr McCormack said the trio were pretty close, leaving their differences back home.