50 years later, now a New Zealander

Barbara Hochstein (left) lived in New Zealand for 50 years before she became a citizen at yesterday's ceremony. She is pictured with Rotorua Mayor Steve Chadwick. Photo / Stephen Parker

Rotorua welcomed 28 new citizens yesterday afternoon in a citizenship ceremony at the Council Chamber.

The new citizens were welcomed by Mayor Steve Chadwick, cultural ambassador and councillor Trevor Maxwell and Te Arawa kaumatua Monty Morrison.

They were also treated to musical items from Malfroy School children.

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Among those welcomed was Barbara Hochstein, who was originally from Germany, but has spent 50 years living in New Zealand.

Despite receiving the perks of being a New Zealand citizen thanks to permanent residency, she had always wanted to become a citizen, but did not want to give up her German citizenship.

"If you are a permanent resident you get all of the same privileges, but I really wanted to be a New Zealand citizen. I have always lived here but it wasn't until recently that Germany has allowed dual citizenship."

Dr Hochstein said she felt she was a mixture of Germany and New Zealand: "It was a challenge, my parents came out almost 50 years ago and I had all of my schooling and university and medical school in New Zealand.

"It used to trouble me a lot when I was younger but now I would say I am like a braid; a strong thread runs through which is German, and a strong thread runs through that is New Zealand, but it is plaited together tightly and you can't unravel it."

Dr Hochstein goes back to Germany every two years and remembers the six-week journey to New Zealand her family took.

"I remember the boat ride over because I couldn't speak English and I remember seeing all the people who could speak English and thinking 'wow, how do they do that?'"