Welcome to Whanganui’s newest citizens

Published on 13 June 2016

13 June 2016

Deputy Mayor Hamish McDouall and Chief Executive Kym Fell welcomed a group of new citizens in a ceremony in the Council Chambers on Thursday, June 9.

Cr McDouall says he was delighted to meet the new citizens, who each will add a different dimension to our district.

“Recently the South African born Precious McKenzie, who represented New Zealand in weight-lifting, has joked that he is more Kiwi than people born here, because he chose New Zealand while we are here by accident of birth!” said Cr McDouall.

“It was a great honour to welcome so many people from around the world to our community, all of whom made that same brave and adventurous choice to become New Zealanders, as Precious McKenzie made.

“The ceremonies are always wonderful, positive events. This time it had a bit more drama than usual, as a surgeon who had just finished operating came to the ceremony carrying his four-month old baby as he affirmed allegiance!”

The new citizens and their original nationalities are:

Mrs Genevieve Allan (South African), Mr Mel Devon Allan (South African), Mr Daelyn Mervyn Clements (South African), Mr Ethan Caiden Clements (South African), Miss Kaylee Jean Allan (South African), Mr Luciano Alves De Araujo (Brazilian), Mrs Jaqueline De Andrade Araujo (Brazilian), Miss Emily De Andrade Araujo (Brazilian), Dr Arampath Mudiyanselage Lakshman Wipulasiri Bandara (British Sri Lankan), Mrs Julie Margaret Cowan (British), Mrs Debra Ellen Fleming (British), Miss Rowan Goodfellow (British), Mrs Teu Lavoa (Samoan), Mr Nishant Rajendran Nair (Indian), Mr Nicholas John Palazzo (American), Mr Michael Tafilipepe (Samoan), Mrs Christine Anne Roebuck (British) and Dr Roberto Alfredo Sthory Sosa (Venezuelan).