Ten new citizens receive certificates in Thames yesterday

Tears of appreciation flow during Thames-Coromandel District Council Citizenship Ceremony.

Ten new citizens from four countries gave affirmations or oaths of allegiance at Thames-Coromandel District Council's (TCDC) Citizenship Ceremony yesterday morning. Candidates came from the UK, South Africa, Thailand and Samoa to be awarded official status as New Zealand Citizens, although New Zealand has been home to some of them for the last four decades.

Mrs Maureen Kimber has been a resident for 40 years, during which time she has served the Coromandel in executive roles in the Music Society, Lion's club and Bowling club as well as operating retail and real-estate businesses. But she said "from today, it's now officially home."

Former British national, David Mallinson says although he, too, has been in New Zealand for over 40 years, he felt an immediate connection with the Coromandel and its land from the moment he arrived on the Thames Coast 23 years ago. The decision to apply for citizenship was prompted at the time of the weather bomb when a former councillor let him know that if he was a citizen, he would be in a better position to work towards helping the area as a councillor.

Henry and Rachel Mackeson, originally from England's Somerset and Scotland's south west respectively, have recently had their Coromandel town earth house identified as a building of merit for inclusion on TCDC's Heritage Register as part of the District Plan review.

An emotional moment came when Mrs. Filomena Mahy gave way to tears at the beginning of this new phase of her life. Originally from Samoa, Mrs. Mahy has served as a member of National Women of New Zealand on behalf of Pacific women and in the last five years has been employing family and members of the community contracting to the Kiwifruit industry. A Tairua resident for the last two years, Mrs. Mahy also plans to develop a fashion design business - but now as a New Zealander.

Thames-Coromandel Mayor Philippa Barriball led the ceremony and in addition to presenting each new citizen with their official certificates, presented each with a native tree donated by the Thames Coast Protection Society. The trees symbolise the putting down of roots for the latest in a long line of visitors who have chosen to make the Peninsula home.