"We have always welcomed new people to our town and we love doing it.
"And while Rotorua used to be a gateway to other destinations, immigrants are now choosing to live here."
She said a number of factors, including lifestyle, schools and employment, had contributed to the change.
"Being mayor allows a helicopter view and I see our new citizens everywhere. With some, I have travelled the journey with them, and others I have greeted at citizenship ceremonies.
"They are employees, small business owners and big business owners. Not only do they contribute to our economy, they are also incredibly committed to community events."
Chadwick believed a multicultural society contributed to a vibrant community.
"I love what our people of different ethnicities bring. Not only are new citizens happy to embrace our culture, I believe Rotorua residents who understand what it is to be bicultural, are not at all threatened by multiculturalism."
Chadwick said she often got teary at the monthly citizenship ceremonies.
"Lately our new citizens have been starting their speeches with their pepeha. They understand the value of biculturalism and they do their best to do it well."
Rotorua Multicultural Society president Margriet Theron said she had been seeing two different scenarios at recent ceremonies.
"There are people who arrived on a student visa, studied for one to three years, obtained a three-year work visa, and then worked until accepting a skilled position or reaching a certain pay level, then applied for citizenship," Theron said.
"At the other end there are people who came out to New Zealand years ago, have Kiwi children and grandchildren, and who have realised they are the only generation to not have citizenship and applied."
However, Theron said there were some immigrants who chose not to seek New Zealand citizenship as it meant forfeiting their own.
"Many of the citizenship ceremonies are quite emotional, especially if they involve a refugee getting citizenship."
She said Rotorua had a strong multicultural society, largely made possible by the city's welcoming community.
"There are many organised ethnic associations who hold regular get-togethers including a monthly Multicultural Society lunch.
Tauranga mayor Greg Brownless said anybody who could "get in and work hard and be part of the community" would always be welcomed.
"That's not culture-specific, that stands for all," Brownless said. "And anybody not prepared to do so is not welcome."
He said citizenship ceremonies were held in Tauranga once a month and were generally a mix of formal and informal.
"They can be emotional at times."
Brownless said sharing of cultures was done well in Tauranga, especially during ethnic gatherings.
"Once a year we have an ethnic festival that allows people to experience food, dance and religion from other ethnicities. It's always well-patronised and well-received. There are also many events held by the different ethnic groups throughout the year.
"There are also things like Ethkick – the multicultural football tournament held in Tauranga."
Tauranga's Multicultural Centre's Ann Kerewaro said she believed the Tauranga community was as eager to learn about different cultures as new citizens were to learn about local culture.
"We host weekly meetings at our centre with the old and the new [to Tauranga] and the young and the old [age] coming together to listen and to learn," Kerewaro said.
"Kiwis get to meet newcomers to our city and are generally very interested to find out where people have come from and the differences in lifestyles."
She said the meetings were also an opportunity for new citizens to bring up any problems they were having and to seek answers.
"These meetings are well attended and highlight the great relationship between locals and newcomers."
