Solid grins all round at Rotorua's citizenship ceremony

Thirty people from 10 different nationalities have been added to the mix in Rotorua after a citizenship ceremony in the council chambers yesterday afternoon.

The Ona family was among those, and Owen, 24, said his family's new life undoubtedly topped their life in the Philippines when they moved to Rotorua six years earlier.

Poverty, corruption, and lack of opportunity was what Ona said drew his family out.

The Ona family of Owen (left), Maria, Nelson, Olive, and Orleen from the Philippines are now all proud Kiwis. Photo / Cira Olivier

He said while it was not easy to leave behind loved ones, it was not a decision they regretted.

"It's lived up to everything we hoped for," he said.

Mayor Steve Chadwick welcomed the group, opening with a minute of silence for those who lost their lives in the Christchurch mosque shooting.

Rotorua Primary School pupils extended the welcome with an uplifting performance which got the entire room dancing and laughing.

As Chadwick read the words "you are now a New Zealand citizens" it was clear what people felt with either modest smirks or ear-to-ear grins.

Some new Kiwis spoke briefly and mentioned the challenges they faced to get where they were but also how it was worth it.

Alex Burge had lived in New Zealand for more than 30 years, and owned a bakery in Rotorua and jokingly apologised for the extra calories he added to the community.

Each person or family was called up, read a promise followed by Chadwick's declaration they were now citizens.

They were given a native plant and told to plant it in a place they could bring loved ones back to and remember this special day.

Rotorua's newest citizens
Abin Cherian - India
Jonathan Allcock - South Africa
Pamela Wheelock - South Africa
Alex Burge - Sweden
Manroop Grewal - India
Ruigen Guo - China
Jiahua He - China
Yohan Moses Benjamin - Sri Lanka
Nelson Ona - Philippines
Owen Ona - Philippines
Orleen Ona - Philippines
Olive Ona - Philippines
Jemaila Pavo - Philippines
Leonora Poblete - Philippines
Aden Aydin - Turkey
Zahide Aydin - Turkey
Yaren Aydin - Turkey
Irem Aydin - Turkey
Boran Aydin - Turkey
Jen-Kai Chang - Taiwan
Chih-Yin Lee - Taiwan
Khristian Dionela - Philipines
Il Lee - Korea
Dean Lovelock - Britain
John Mile - Britain
Susan Jory - Britain
Brendan Moore - Britain
Barry Morris - Britain
Preetinanda Panda - India
Yan Zhang - China