Street view: New citizens sworn in at Rotorua Lakes Council

Rotorua Lakes Council. Photo/File

Ravinder Bhatia, India. Photo/Ben Fraser

I came here in 2009 as a student and met my Kiwi life partner. We have a 2-year-old daughter and another baby on the way. I work at the Port of Tauranga and I love my life over here.

Ravinder Bhatia

India

Alistair Johnson, Britain. Photo/Ben Fraser

I have got a family here today and I am the only one that is not a Kiwi. So it is really nice to join them, a proud moment. My first visit to New Zealand was in 1989 and I was really motivated to come back to live here. It is good to be here.

Alistair Johnson

Britain

Ranjodh Singh, India. Photo/Ben Fraser

I came here in 2008 to study and decided to stay because of the people and the culture. I am really glad to be a citizen. Thanks for your support.

Ranjodh Singh

India

Sonia Bhatti, India. Photo/Ben Fraser

I work in the radiology department at Rotorua Hospital. I moved to New Zealand in 2009, my husband came here first and we have a son. I have almost finished studying. New Zealand feels like an aunty to me because India will always be my motherland. We recently moved here from Tauranga. I love Rotorua.

Sonia Bhatti

India

Amandeep Kumar. Photo/Ben Fraser

I came here as a student and started my life in Rotorua. I met my wife here and now we have a 2-year-old son.

Amandeep Kumar

India

Brendon Morton. Photo/Ben Fraser

Life is a journey, and we have all come from different origins to the same place today. We discovered the mountain bike parks in Rotorua and decided to make it home. We have two wonderful children.

Brendon Morton

South Africa