Sixteen Central Otago residents were granted New Zealand citizenship in a special ceremony in Central Otago District Council (CODC) chambers in Alexandra yesterday (Friday December 16).

Along with the official paperwork, the new citizens were presented with a native kōwhai seedling, which has been propagated from a 400 year old kōwhai tree on Bannockburn’s Te Kano Estate.

The new citizens came from Australia, England, France, Scotland, South Africa, and Uzbekistan.

Amongst the new citizens was Tatyana (Tania) McEwan. Born in Uzbekistan, and raised in Israel, Tania is married to New Zealander Brett and is a mum of two preschoolers. 

Theirs is a love story for the times, they met online and she moved to Australia to be with him. 

She is a sports and massage therapist in Central and a four time European Judo champ who  represented Israel in Judo for many years. 

Tania and husband Brett said they were thrilled to attend the ceremony

Passion for the sport led her to open a local Judo school, Alexandra Judo Champ Academy, for adults and children in Alexandra. 

She volunteers her time to coach Judo on Wednesdays and has approximately 20 children and six adult club members who attend regularly.

Another new citizen with a sporting background is Jacques Nieuwenhuis who played professional rugby as a flanker or number eight for Namibia in the 2007 and 2011 Rugby World Cups.

Dentist Alisdair Au-Yong said since moving to Central he had made the most of “good living” in the district, learning many outdoor pursuits including training as a pilot, a skydiver, hunting and fishing along with mountain biking and motor biking. 

The new citizens were invited to share a snippet of how they have come to live in this district and these were read out by Mayor Tim. 

Many new residents said that they wanted to confirm their commitment to Aotearoa and whānau and that becoming a citizen was a way to do that.

Smiles for miles: New citizens are (from left, back row) Lesley and Alan Garrett, Bernie Hewson, Rebecca Paris, mayor Tim Cadogan, Monique Nieuwenhuis, Alisdair Au-Yong, Ivan Snyman, Ellita Thomas and daughter. Keanu and Jean Devon Niewenhuis, Tania McEwan and Jacques Nieuwenhuis (crouched) make up the front row