Northland Age
  • Northland Age home
  • Latest news
  • Sport
  • Rural
  • Opinion
  • Kaitaia weather

Subscriptions

  • Herald Premium
  • Viva Premium
  • The Listener
  • BusinessDesk

Sections

  • Latest news
  • Sport
  • Rural
    • All Rural
    • Dairy farming
    • Sheep & beef farming
    • Horticulture
    • Animal health
    • Rural business
    • Rural life
    • Rural technology

Locations

  • Far North
  • Kaitaia
  • Kaikohe
  • Bay of Islands
  • Whangārei

Weather

  • Kaitaia
  • Whangārei
  • Dargaville

NZME Network

  • Advertise with NZME
  • OneRoof
  • Driven Car Guide
  • BusinessDesk
  • Newstalk ZB
  • Sunlive
  • ZM
  • The Hits
  • Coast
  • Radio Hauraki
  • The Alternative Commentary Collective
  • Gold
  • Flava
  • iHeart Radio
  • Hokonui
  • Radio Wanaka
  • iHeartCountry New Zealand
  • Restaurant Hub
  • NZME Events

SubscribeSign In
Advertisement
Advertise with NZME.
Home / Northland Age

A Kiwi by choice

By Peter Jackson
Northland Age·
19 May, 2021 10:02 PM2 mins to read

Subscribe to listen

Access to Herald Premium articles require a Premium subscription. Subscribe now to listen.
Already a subscriber?  Sign in here

Listening to articles is free for open-access content—explore other articles or learn more about text-to-speech.
‌
Save

    Share this article

Paul Emmerson, an Englishman from the Yorkshire Dales, now a New Zealander in Kerikeri. Photo / Peter Jackson

Paul Emmerson, an Englishman from the Yorkshire Dales, now a New Zealander in Kerikeri. Photo / Peter Jackson

Sixteen people took the oath or affirmation of allegiance at Te Ahu, in Kaitaia, on Tuesday, completing the process of officially becoming New Zealand citizens.

As usual Mayor John Carter put the brand new New Zealanders through their paces, inviting them to chant Kia ora, and, a little more loudly, ALL BLACKS!, and no one needed a second invitation.

And again as usual, those who spoke said they were delighted to have become citizens, Paul Russell Emmerson saying he had become a Kiwi by choice, while Otto Ziegler, who had lived here for 10 years after sailing all over the world, declared that there was no more beautiful country.

Many had been in New Zealand for some time before seeking citizenship. Melissa Byrne had arrived eight years ago, and met her husband here. It was a wonderful country with wonderful people, she said, adding that her New Zealand-born son had beaten her to citizenship.

Joanna Danilo-Garbacki and her family had arrived 10 years ago, and never left.

Advertisement
Advertise with NZME.
Advertisement
Advertise with NZME.

"You welcomed us with open arms, and now I feel that your arms have closed in an embrace," she said.

"I am proud to be a Kiwi."

Emmerson, who introduced himself in te reo Māori, in the process naming his waka as Emirates, a man from the Yorkshire Dales and now a New Zealander in Kerikeri, said he was English by birth but a Kiwi by choice, while Ina Stuwe wasn't the only one who had arrived on a working visa and never left.

Advertisement
Advertise with NZME.

"I enjoy the nature and especially the people here, she said.

"This is a very special country."

Those who took the oath or affirmation of allegiance were:

Melissa Ann Byrne, USA, now living in Kerikeri.

Joanna Louise (England), Hector (UK), Jan Olgierd (England) and Felix (Switzerland) Danilo-Garbacki, now living in Kerikeri.

Paul Russell Emmerson (England, Kerikeri).

Margaret Roselyn Josefa (Fiji, Paihia).

Jessica Laura (Canada) and Erskin Gil Mathurin (Santa Lucia, Kerikeri).

Irish Cogay Surima and Mark David Jnr. Surima Olfindo (Philippines, Haruru).

Lisa Ann Stone (USA, Kaikohe).

Advertisement
Advertise with NZME.

Ina Marcella Stuwe (Germany, Russell).

Helen Margaret Yuretich (Australia, Pukepoto).

Lilian (Switzerland) and Otto Ziegler (South Africa, Haruru).

Save

    Share this article

Latest from Northland Age

Northland Age

'Overly rigid': Insulation rules changed to cut building costs in Far North

09 Jul 12:00 AM
Northland Age

'Pretty low': Burglary leaves trades students without tools

07 Jul 06:00 PM
Northland Age

Far North news in brief: Bottled water recall, writing competition for Year 13 students

07 Jul 05:00 PM

From early mornings to easy living

sponsored
Advertisement
Advertise with NZME.

Latest from Northland Age

'Overly rigid': Insulation rules changed to cut building costs in Far North

'Overly rigid': Insulation rules changed to cut building costs in Far North

09 Jul 12:00 AM

The Government plans to ease insulation rules in the Far North soon.

'Pretty low': Burglary leaves trades students without tools

'Pretty low': Burglary leaves trades students without tools

07 Jul 06:00 PM
Far North news in brief: Bottled water recall, writing competition for Year 13 students

Far North news in brief: Bottled water recall, writing competition for Year 13 students

07 Jul 05:00 PM
Far North talent shines as Smokefreerockquest returns to Kerikeri

Far North talent shines as Smokefreerockquest returns to Kerikeri

07 Jul 02:00 AM
Solar bat monitors uncover secrets of Auckland’s night sky
sponsored

Solar bat monitors uncover secrets of Auckland’s night sky

NZ Herald
  • About NZ Herald
  • Meet the journalists
  • Newsletters
  • Classifieds
  • Help & support
  • Contact us
  • House rules
  • Privacy Policy
  • Terms of use
  • Competition terms & conditions
  • Our use of AI
Subscriber Services
  • The Northland Age e-edition
  • Manage your print subscription
  • Manage your digital subscription
  • Subscribe to Herald Premium
  • Subscribe to The Northland Age
  • Gift a subscription
  • Subscriber FAQs
  • Subscription terms & conditions
  • Promotions and subscriber benefits
NZME Network
  • The Northland Age
  • The New Zealand Herald
  • The Northern Advocate
  • Waikato Herald
  • Bay of Plenty Times
  • Rotorua Daily Post
  • Hawke's Bay Today
  • Whanganui Chronicle
  • Viva
  • NZ Listener
  • Newstalk ZB
  • BusinessDesk
  • OneRoof
  • Driven Car Guide
  • iHeart Radio
  • Restaurant Hub
NZME
  • About NZME
  • NZME careers
  • Advertise with NZME
  • Digital self-service advertising
  • Photo sales
  • NZME Events
  • © Copyright 2025 NZME Publishing Limited
TOP