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Citizenship

Hauraki District Council - Citizenship Ceremonies

Citizenship ceremonies are held by the Hauraki District Council throughout the year on behalf of the Department of Internal Affairs (NZ Government) to welcome new Hauraki citizens to New Zealand and confirm their citizenship.

All successful candidates are required to attend a ceremony to declare publicly their commitment to New Zealand and recite an oath or affirmation of allegiance before becoming a New Zealand citizen.

Candidates only become New Zealand citizens once the oath or affirmation has been sworn and the certificate of Citizenship has been presented.

Hauraki District Council recognises the importance of New Zealand citizenship and we endeavour to make our ceremonies an enjoyable experience for each candidate.

Family and friends of the new citizens are also invited to attend.

Further information regarding Citizenship ceremonies can be found via the New Zealand Government Website.

2024 Ceremony Dates

  • Wednesday 28 February
  • Wednesday 29 May
  • Wednesday 28 August
  • Wednesday 27 November

For ceremony enquiries please contact us on 07 862 8609 or 0800 734 834 (from within district), or email info@hauraki-dc.govt.nz

Venue
Most of our Citizenship ceremonies are held at the Council's Paeroa Office, 1 William Street, Paeroa in the Council Chambers.

Dependent on the number of attendees, the ceremony normally takes around 45 minutes, followed by light refreshments.

What to bring
Candidates are not required to bring anything along for the purpose of the ceremony itself, however, we do encourage you to bring along relatives and friends to help celebrate your special occasion.

Candidates are welcome to take photos or video the event.

Guests
Each candidate being granted citizenship is entitled to bring four guests to the ceremony. However, additional guests may be permitted depending on individual circumstances. Please contact Hauraki District Council via email info@hauraki-dc.govt.nz, if you would like to discuss guest numbers.

Attending this ceremony is a very important step in the process of becoming a New Zealand citizen. It is an opportunity for you to publicly declare your allegiance to New Zealand and for the local community to welcome you on behalf of New Zealanders.

As a special touch, we provide new citizens with a native tree to plant at home as a symbol of becoming a New Zealander and choosing to put roots down in this country.

The following process is undertaken:

  • Opening address by His Worship the Mayor (or Deputy Mayor)
  • Candidates take the oath or affirmation
  • Presentation of certificates
  • Concluding address
  • National anthem
  • Photo opportunity (Group photo and individual photos with His Worship the Mayor is used on social media)
  • To celebrate, at the conclusion of the ceremony, new citizens and their guests are invited to join His Worship the Mayor and Councillors for light refreshments.

Candidates must recite the Oath of Allegiance or Affirmation of Allegiance in either English or te reo Māori before becoming a New Zealand Citizen.

The Oath of Allegiance in English is:

I [say your name] swear that I will be faithful and bear true allegiance to His Majesty King Charles the Third, King of New Zealand, his heirs and successors according to law, and that I will faithfully observe the laws of New Zealand and fulfil my duties as a New Zealand citizen. So help me God.

The Oath of Allegiance in te reo Māori is:

Ko ahau, ko [say your name] e kī taurangi ana ka pirihonga ahau, ka piripono ki Te Arikinui Kīngi Tiāre te Tuatoru, te Kīngi o Aotearoa, me ōna uri ake me ōna whakakapi e ai ki te ture, ā, ka aro pirihonga ahau ki ngā ture o Aotearoa me te whakatutuki i āku mahi hei kirirarau o Aotearoa. Nō reira e te Atua, āwhinatia mai ahau.

The Affirmation of Allegiance in English is:

I [say your name] affirm that I will be faithful and bear true allegiance to His Majesty King Charles the Third, King of New Zealand, His heirs and successors according to the law, and that I will faithfully observe the laws of New Zealand and fulfil my duties as a New Zealand citizen.

The Affirmation of Allegiance in te reo Māori is:

Ko ahau, ko [say your name] tēnei e whakaū pono ana ka pirihonga ahau, ka piripono ki Te Arikinui Kīngi Tiāre te Tuatoru, te Kīngi o Aotearoa, me ōna uri ake me ōna whakakapi e ai ki te ture, ā, ka aro pirihonga ahau ki ngā ture o Aotearoa me te whakatutuki i āku mahi hei kirirarau o Aotearoa.

You can listen to an audio example of the oath and affirmation in te reo Māori on the New Zealand Government website.

The New Zealand National Anthem ‘God Defend New Zealand’ is sung at the conclusion of a citizenship ceremony as below:

E Ihowā Atua,

O ngā iwi mātou rā,
Āta whakarangona;
Me aroha noa.
Kia hua ko te pai;
Kia tau tō atawhai;
Manaakitia mai
Aotearoa.

God of Nations at Thy feet,
In the bonds of love we meet,
Hear our voices, we entreat,
God defend our free land.
Guard Pacific's triple star
From the shafts of strife and war,
Make her praises heard afar,
God defend New Zealand.

Applications for New Zealand Citizenship must be made to the Department of Internal Affairs.

Freephone: 0800 22 51 51 (New Zealand only)

Phone: (+64 4) 463 9361 (from outside New Zealand)

E-mail: citizenship@dia.govt.nz

Website: www.citizenship.govt.nz

If you have any questions relating to the Citizenship ceremony, please email info@hauraki-dc.govt.nz.

For any enquiries regarding the status of your application, please contact the Department of Internal Affairs directly on 0800 225151.

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