Citizenship Ceremony – 11 August 2026

Published on 12 August 2026

Twenty  new citizens sworn in at Ōamaru Opera House

The fifth Citizenship Ceremony of the new triennium took place at Ōamaru Opera House on Tuesday afternoon.

Mayor Mel Tavendale was joined by Councillors Sven Thelning, John McCone, Jeremy Holding and Deputy Mayor Rebecca Ryan to present citizenship certificates to twenty brand new New Zealanders from ten different countries.

After a waiata by Evah Hansen, the Mayor welcomed the attendees and their family and friends. Affirmations and oaths of citizenship were sworn by each family, and they were presented with a native hebe plant.

Minister of Internal Affairs Brooke Van Velden and the NZ Governor-General, Her Excellency the Right Hon Cindy Kiro then appeared in a welcome video to the new citizens.

Evah Hansen then led all present in a rendition of the National Anthem, before group photos were taken on the staircase of the Ōamaru Opera House.

Waitaki District Mayor Mel Tavendale said, “I am honoured to welcome our new citizens and their families, and to mark an important decision in their life. Each of our new citizens have chosen New Zealand as their home, and they all add to the growth and diversity of Waitaki. ”

The new citizens are Angrej Singh (India), Alfaaz Singh Sandhu (NZ Minor), Twyla Kingan (Canada), Derek Cox (UK), Samuel Farr (England), Zuleyha Bingul (Turkey), Amanda Acheson (Northern Ireland), Stephen Rigg (England), Sandra McTavish (Germany), Avish Rak, Shareena Lata, Ashish Kumar, Anish Raf (Fiji), Ian Carter (England), Megan Flett (Australia), Jennie-Lee Gibson (Australia), Michelle Hahn (Argentina), Anique Williams (UK), Majdi Ghanem Mohammed Abed Rabbo (Jordan), Samatha Simkiss (UK).

ENDS

media@waitaki.govt.nz