‘Peaceful’ new home city praised
A MOVE from India to New Zealand nine years ago in search of a better quality of life has finally paid off for Dias Louis and Meriya Dias.
The married couple were two of 66 people from 17 nations awarded New Zealand citizenship at a ceremony at the Dunedin City Council on Wednesday.
Meriya Dias said the couple initially lived in Wellington and Palmerston North after arriving in the country, but a job offer at Wakari Hospital for her husband drew them south a year and ahalf ago.
‘‘It’s a very good place, very friendly people, and a very peaceful place to live in,’’ she said.
Now working at Dunedin Hospital, Dias Louis said he was excited to be a New Zealand citizen.
‘‘It feels very good to be part of the new country, new culture,’’ he said.
Veronica Larraga Garcia was the only person from Latin America at
the ceremony, but said becoming a New Zealand citizen following her move from Mexico in 2010 was something she was proud of.
‘‘I really appreciate the culture, the people, and I have learnt a lot about the people around me.’’
The United Kingdom provided the largest portion of Dunedin residents attaining New Zealand citizenship, about a third of the new citizens.
Others becoming New Zealand citizens were: Stuart Johnson, Gail Johnson,
Sarah Johnson, Elizabeth Johnson (Australia); Kanchana Abeyweera Mirissa Patabadige, Vimukthi Abeyweera Jayaweera Patabadige, Palitha Abeyweera Jayaweera Patabadige, Dimuthu Abeyweera Jayaweera Patabadige (Sri Lanka); Fadi
Abuhadhoud (Jordan); Aaron Aseniero (Phillippines); Dhiraj Bhoir (India); Andrew Blacker, Alison Blacker, Caitlin Blacker, Eleanor Blacker (Britain); Yvette Buttery (Britain); Pyo Pyo Chan (Myanmar); HsiuChin Chang (Taiwan); Piyabutara Cheuyglintase (Thailand); Gary Clarkson, Phyllis Clarkson, Andrew Clarkson, Gregor Clarkson (Britain); Garth Hannaford, Sharon Hannaford, Robert Hannaford (South Africa); James Jackson, Vanessa Adey, Joseph Jackson, Alice Jackson (Britain); James Jean (China); Benjamin Kennedy (Britain); Chitra Kumarasinghe (Sri Lanka); Veronica Larraga Garcia (Mexico); Zheng Lee (Malaysia); Dias Louis, Meriya Dias (India); Kyungwoog Min (Korea); Toesulu Oto (Samoa); Rakesh Pandey (Australia); Mansi Mansi (Australia); EmmaJane Paton (Britain); Scott Pearson, Louise Pearce (Britain), Monica Pickett, Hannah Pickett (Phillippines); Vennu Punetha (India); Suchaya Sanhajariya (Thailand); RoseAnne Shaw, Tyler Beary (Ireland); Vincent Tsai (China); Ruben Ungab (Phillippines); Senthilkumar Vedagiri, Arthi Senthilkumar, Megha Senthilkumar (India); Weiyang Wang (China); Bernadette Armer (Britain); Rammy ElDessouky (Britain); Judith MayoSmith (Britain); Litala Apelu (Samoa); Khanh Hang (Vietnam); Jone Kaiwai (Fiji); Marc Minnaar (South Africa); Lorne Townend, Felix Townend, Lucas Townend (Australia, Britain).