By MEGAN LACEY in Rotorua
Bulgarians Vasilka Doncheva and Radoslav Radoslavov were drawn to New Zealand because of its reputation as a relaxed and friendly country to raise their family in.
Four years later they have become official citizens of their adoptive country.
The family accompanied new Kiwis from Samoa, Zimbabwe,
The Philippines, Malaysia, Great Britain, China, Japan and South Africa at the latest Rotorua citizenship ceremony to be held at the Rotorua District Council.
Ms Doncheva, a marketing lecturer at Waiariki Institute of Technology, and her artist husband, Radoslav Radoslavov, considered a few countries to migrate to, but decided on New Zealand as the one where they would like to raise their children.
"We had a good life [in Bulgaria], in terms of financially and careers, but we didn't want to be bringing up our kids in such a political and unstable environment. You want your kids to grow up in a caring environment and enjoy the world and not be restricted."
Ms Doncheva said New Zealand was a great place to raise a family and is happy with their choice to settle here. "It's a life more relaxed. The work and family balance is much easier here."
The couple's daughters Nikol, 8, and Viktoriya, 6, have already acquired the Kiwi twang and considered themselves New Zealanders before the official ceremony. "When I told Nikol we were going to become real Kiwis she said, 'Mum, we already are real Kiwis'."
Rotorua's newest New Zealand citizens:
Mr Tuifaasisina Pelulale Aupeipeigamalie, Samoa; Ms Sheilla Ruth Shumirai Damba, Zimbabwe; Miss May Conde De Los Santos, Phillipines; Mr Pio Lealamanu'a, Samoa; Mr Kong Seng Loh, Mrs Poh Seo Tan, Malaysia; Mrs Muriel Eileen Powles, Mr David Edward Powles, Britain; Mr Adrian Donovan Prins, South Africa; Miss Wing Lam Au, Britain; Mr Allan John Bidwell, Britain; Mrs Elizabeth Clayton, Mr Mark Stephen Clayton, Miss Charlotte Emily Clayton, Master Nicholas Aidan Clayton, Britain; Miss Xiangyun Gong, China; Mr James Brian Montgomery, Britain; Mr Radoslav Ivanov Radoslavov, Ms Vasilka Grozdeva Doncheva, Miss Nikol Vasileva Doncheva, Miss Viktoriya Radoslavov Ivanova, Bulgaria; Mr Steven Peter Smith, Britain; Ms Eriko Todd, Japan; Mr Stefanus Hofmeyr Van Der Spuy, Mrs Helena Van Der Spuy, South Africa.
