THE newest Kiwis were officially welcomed in at the Kawerau Council Chambers last Thursday.
Eight people became official New Zealand citizens after the ceremony conducted by Kawerau District Mayor Malcolm Campbell and supported by Kawerau Deputy Mayor Faylene Tunui and Councillor Warwick Godfery. 
As is tradition with Kawerau citizenship ceremonies, the new Kiwis received a framed certificate of their citizenship award and a native plant, which they can either plant in their garden or nominate to be planted in one of the Council’s reserve areas. 
NEW KIWIS: Our new citizens are sitting in the front row holding their certificates. Pictured (left to right) Mrs Wilhelmina and Mr Schalk Le Roux, Mr Alan and Mrs Maria Carlson, Mr Robert and Mrs Frances Kuijpers, Ms Carole Hughes and Mr Timothy Sunga. The new citizens are flanked by Kaumatua Rangitukehu Paul (seated far left) and Pastor Gary Martin (seated far right). 
The citizens were welcomed by Mayor Malcolm Campbell and joined by Deputy Mayor Faylene Tunui, Councillor Warwick Godfery, their families and friends of Kawerau.