Ceremony to Welcome New Citizens
Published on 18 December 2017
18 December 2017
Thirty-four new citizens have been officially welcomed to Whanganui, with Mayor Hamish McDouall hosting a ceremony in the Pioneer Room at the War Memorial Centre on Thursday 7th of December.
The new citizens were presented with their certificate of New Zealand Citizenship and gifts to commemorate the occasion. The ceremony was followed by afternoon tea for the new citizens and their guests.
The new citizens and their original nationalities are:
Mrs Ann Blackwell (Australian), Mr Edmund Lawrence Sindol Florendo (Filipino), Mrs Geraldine De La Gente Florendo (Filipino), Master Lawrence De La gente Florendo (Filipino), Mr Peter James Forbes (British), Ms Clare Hiroti (British), Mr Apenisa Kuruwaca (Fijian), Mrs Salesni Lata (Fijian), Miss Shasleen Anushka Lal (Fijian), Mr Michael David Law (British), Mr Robert Andrew McGuiness (British South African), Mrs Crystal Lee (South African), Mr Lawrence Factura Peralta (Filipino), Mrs Emily Lucile Cuatriz Peralta (Filipino), Mr Renz Christian Cuatriz Peralta (Filipino), Mr Ryan Christopher Peralta (Filipino), Mr Jijo Philip (Indian), Mr Allan John Priest (South African), Mrs Luzanne Priest (South African), Mr Jason Carl priest (South African), Mrs Juliana Tavares De Freitas Sproesser (Brazilian), Mr Ian James Bartlett (British), Mr Eyal Aharon Ben Ezra (Israeli), Mrs Roxana Betancur (Argentinian), Ms Susan Jane Cox (British), Ms Tracy Fisher (British), Mrs Denise Harris (British), Mr Colin George Harris (British), Miss Jessica Harris (British), Mr Roger Edward Hill (British), Mr Justin Zhen (Chinese).
Mayor Hamish McDouall says the ceremony is a great opportunity for the local community to welcome new citizens on behalf of all New Zealanders.
“We are also currently a pilot Council for a new Welcoming Communities programme initiated by Immigration New Zealand. We want to ensure Whanganui is a welcoming place for all who come here.”