Latest New Zealanders
Published on 26 March 2019
The new citizens
The first citizenship ceremony of 2019 was held on Thursday, 14 March, at the Alexander Heritage and Research Library.
In light of the Christchurch mosque attack of Friday 15 March, one day after the citizenship ceremony, Mayor McDouall says it is even more important now than ever to recognise and celebrate diversity in Whanganui.
“We have seen several community-lead vigils and events held in Whanganui to support Christchurch and the Muslim community following the mosque attacks and I am really pleased how local people have come together to show their solidarity.
“Whanganui has already shown it is a welcoming place for newcomers, but with the whole of New Zealand grieving and now the consideration of how we work through what has happened in Christchurch, it’s a particularly important time to reach out to people who have come from another country to make New Zealand their home,” said Mayor McDouall.
“The citizens we welcomed most recently have been part of our community for some time. They are parents, professionals, business people and hard workers who have contributed so much to Whanganui. Some of lived her for more than 30 years.”
The new citizens and their nationalities are:
Mr Nestor Bulala Buico, Mrs Elsie Castor Buico, Mrs Aubrey Rose Buico Elli, Mr Christian Castor Buico, Miss Neselle Castor Buico and Master Gian Karyll Castor Buico (Philippines), Mrs Yan Feng and Mr Yipeng Zhang (China), Mrs Sharon Santos Fernandez, Mr Jasper de Lara Fernandez and Miss Sandra Victoria Santos Fernandez (Philippines), Mr Jijo Mathews (India), Mrs Karyn Reid (Australia), Mrs Kalisi Coqamaiba Savu (Fiji), Mr Denning Iosua Tyrell (Samoa), Mrs Marie Antoinette Van Der Bank (South Africa), Ms Hannah Ronis Florence Chapman-Searle (Australia), Mr Bernd Kraus and Ms Alexandra Fox (Germany), Mrs Lis Nielsen (Denmark), Mr Peer Hollandsbjerg Nielsen (Denmark), Mr Peter Reginald Thomas Pearce (United Kingdom), Mrs Carryn Michelle Wilkins (United Kingdom / South Africa).