Irish-born visitor here to stay

Irish-born Siobhan Foster was one of 34 people to become a New Zealand citizen in Rotorua yesterday. Photo/Stephen Parker

What started as a three-week express trip around New Zealand turned into a permanent stay for Irish-born Siobhan Foster.

Ms Foster, from Limerick in Ireland, was one of 34 people granted New Zealand citizenship at a ceremony at Rotorua District Council yesterday.

She came to the country in 2001 to visit a friend who was living in Dunedin and to spend three weeks sight-seeing.

"I made the mistake of thinking New Zealand's just a little strip next to Australia and three weeks would be plenty of time to see everything," she said.

But Ms Foster only had time to travel around the South Island.

After a brief trip back to Ireland she returned to New Zealand, again for what was supposed to be a short trip, only this time around the North Island.

"And what do you know, I'm still here."

"I just fell in love with the place. Like Ireland, it's very green and its people are friendly."

Ms Foster said she was thrilled to become a New Zealand citizen, even if it meant she would get a bit of a hard time for supporting the Irish rugby team.

"I still want to see the Irish beat the All Blacks. It has to happen at least once in my lifetime," she said.

Now living in Rotorua, Ms Foster has lived in towns across the country including Nelson and Papamoa.

She said she now calls Rotorua home.

"I really think that home is where the heart is and for me, it's here."

Yesterday's ceremony was conducted by Mayor Steve Chadwick and cultural ambassador Trevor Maxwell.

Students from Sunset Primary School performed songs and a haka during the ceremony.

Others who got their citizenship yesterday hailed from the Philippines, England, Sri Lanka, South Africa, the United States, India, Zimbabwe, China, Thailand and Malaysia.