Services › Citizenship › A Celebration of 60 Years of New Zealand Citizenship at Parliament
To celebrate 60 years of New Zealand citizenship, a special citizenship ceremony was held at Parliament on Monday 23 February 2009.
The Governor General, His Excellency Hon Anand Satyanand, and Prime Minister Hon John Key were both guests of honour for the evening. Around 140 people from all walks of New Zealand life, including government, business, community organisations, the arts, sports and academia were invited guests, as were some distinguished representatives of other countries. A number of teachers and school children also attended.
Mr Kura Moeahu, Parliament Kaiwhakarite, opened the evening with a Mihi, and Mr Howard McGuire then sang “Tēnā Koutou Haere Mai” to welcome the guests.
Prime Minister Hon John Key gave the first of the evening’s speeches by talking about the history of New Zealand citizenship and how it is an important a bond that unites New Zealanders regardless of their background, ethnicity or religion.
The Minister of Internal Affairs then spoke about the activities planned throughout 2009 to celebrate the 60th anniversary. The Minister also launched a new interactive Citizenship Education website for both teachers and school children that had been developed by the Department of Internal Affairs and a local company Education New Zealand. The Minister said that in launching the site "overall, it is hoped that teaching today’s children something about citizenship will also help further promote such qualities as respecting diversity, participating in the community and respecting others.”
A highlight of the evening was a special citizenship ceremony in which 22 people took the final step on their paths to obtaining New Zealand citizenship. The Prime Minister administered the oaths and affirmations of allegiance for the new citizens and the Governor General presented them with their citizenship certificates.
The Governor General was the evening’s final speaker and highlighted how the 22 people who had just become new citizens had made a positive statement about wanting to be joined in a common bond with other New Zealanders. His Excellency then talked about how New Zealanders celebrate the cultures of people from other lands and also about the rights and responsibilities of being a citizen in our democratic society.
The evening concluded with a moving rendition of the national anthem. Overall the night was a wonderful celebration of New Zealand citizenship.
