More are waiting for citizenship
Palmerston North is increasing the number of citizenship ceremonies it hosts to cater for growing numbers of immigrants who want to call New Zealand home.
On the first date set to welcome new citizens for 2016, February 1, two ceremonies will be held to help clear the backlog of people waiting to take the oath or affirm their allegiance.
Increases in demand to become New Zealand citizens was a national trend, with the Department of Internal Affairs asking all councils to increase capacity at their formal events.
The number of people becoming citizens has increased from 29,002 in 2015 to 32,505 in 2016, about 12 per cent.
In Palmerston North there were 388 new citizens in 2016, up from 362 the year before, and up 32 per cent on 292 five years ago.
Nearly 100 people remained on the waiting list for a city ceremony after the last one in November 2016, which was attended by 100 new citizens.
Internal Affairs Registrargeneral Jeff Montgomery said people could only complete the requirements for New Zealand citizenship and qualify to hold a New Zealand passport once they had attended a ceremony.
‘‘Ideally ceremonies are held every two months,’’ he said. ‘‘We want to ensure that new citizens have the best experience possible and the shortest possible waiting times.’’
Palmerston North deputy mayor Tangi Utikere, who holds the multicultural portfolio, said the council welcomed the increasing numbers.
‘‘It indicates we are a city which not just celebrates diversity, but is diverse.’’
Utikere said becoming New Zealand citizens was more than just a formality for most of those who attended the ceremonies.
‘‘There is vibrancy and colour – there really is a sense of occasion.’’
Utikere said as a refugee resettlement centre, Palmerston North welcomed people from Bhutan and Afghanistan and other nations more frequently than some other New Zealand centres.
But that was only part of the city’s attraction, with people from all around the world included in the ceremonies.
City councillor Rachel Bowen, who moved from the United Kingdom, became a New Zealand citizen in 2013 so she could stand for election later that year.
‘‘Probably not a reason shared by many of the candidates,’’ she said.
Recently-elected councillor Brent Barrett, who came from Washington State, said he became a citizen in 2011 after living here for about a decade.
‘‘The opportunities for community leadership through council at that time were more back of mind.
‘‘I just felt like the balance of my allegiance had come to rest in New Zealand.’’
He said holding a New Zealand passport had some advantages, but mostly, becoming a citizen was about where his loyalties lay, and where he thought of as home.
Barrett did not recall having to wait long to attend a ceremony.
‘‘I do remember it as quite a significant event.
‘‘The Palmerston North ceremonies really do reach out to new citizens to provide a welcome and a warm embrace.’’
Palmerston North will trial morning and afternoon ceremonies on February 1, each hosting about 75 new citizens.
Further ceremonies are pencilled in for May, August and November.