Citizenship ceremonies are held by the Waikato District Council on behalf of the Department of Internal Affairs to welcome new citizens to New Zealand and confirm their citizenship.
Candidates are required to attend a ceremony to publicly declare their commitment to New Zealand and recite an oath or affirmation of allegiance before becoming a New Zealand citizen.
Candidates only become New Zealand citizens once the oath or affirmation has been sworn and the Certificate of Citizenship has been presented.
Waikato District Council recognises the importance of New Zealand citizenship and endeavours to make the ceremony an enjoyable experience for each candidate.
The following process is undertaken:- Opening address by Her Worship the Mayor
- Candidates to take the oath or affirmation
- Presentation of certificates
- Concluding address
- National anthem
- Photo opportunity (the Group Photo with Her Worship the Mayor is used on Social Media)
- To celebrate, at the conclusion of the ceremony, new citizens and their guests are invited to join Her Worship the Mayor and Councillors for light refreshments.
Ceremony venue
Most of our Citizenship ceremonies are held at the Council's Ngaruawahia Office, 15 Galileo Street, Ngaruawahia in the Council Chambers from 4.30pm. We also hold one ceremony a year on the local Turangawaewae Marae. Depending on the number of attendees, the ceremony takes around forty or so minutes to complete.
Ceremony frequency
We will update the page with the 2023 ceremony dates as soon as they are available.
What to bring
Candidates are not required to bring anything along for the purpose of the ceremony itself. However, we do encourage you to bring along relatives and friends to help celebrate your special occasion. Candidates are welcome to take photos or video the event.
Oath or Affirmation of Allegiance
Candidates must recite the Oath of Allegiance or Affirmation of Allegiance in either English or Maaori before becoming a New Zealand Citizen.
The Oath of Allegiance in English is:
I (say your name) swear that I will be faithful and bear true allegiance to His Majesty King Charles the Third, King of New Zealand, his heirs and successors according to law, and that I will faithfully observe the laws of New Zealand and fulfil my duties as a New Zealand citizen. So help me God.
The Oath of Allegiance in Maaori is:
Ko ahau, ko (aata whakahuatia te katoa o too ingoa) o (te waahi noho) e kii taurangi ana ka pirihonga ahau, ka piripono ki Te Arikinui Kīngi Tiaare te Tuatoru, te Kiingi o Aotearoa, me oona uri ake me oona whakakapi e ai ki te ture, aa, ka aro pirihonga ahau ki ngaa ture o Aotearoa me te whakatutuki i aaku mahi hei kirirarau o Aotearoa. Noo reira e te Atua, aawhinatia mai ahau.
The Affirmation of Allegiance in English is:
I (your name) affirm that I will be faithful and bear true allegiance to His Majesty King Charles the Third, King of New Zealand, His heirs and successors according to the law, and that I will faithfully observe the laws of New Zealand and fulfil my duties as a New Zealand citizen.
The Affirmation of Allegiance in Maaori is:
Ko ahau, ko (aata whakahuatia te katoa o too ingoa) o (te waahi noho) teenei e whakaū pono ana ka pirihonga ahau, ka piripono ki Te Arikinui Kīngi Tiaare te Tuatoru, te Kiingi o Aotearoa, me oona uri ake me oona whakakapi e ai ki te ture, aa, ka aro pirihonga ahau ki ngaa ture o Aotearoa me te whakatutuki i aaku mahi hei kirirarau o Aotearoa.
You can listen to an audio example of the oath and affirmation in te reo Maaori here.
Becoming a citizen
If you wish to become a New Zealand citizen, please liaise directly with the Department of Internal Affairs by calling 0800 22 51 51 or emailing citizenship@dia.govt.nz
The New Zealand National Anthem
The New Zealand National Anthem ‘God Defend New Zealand’ is sung at the conclusion of a citizenship ceremony. There is a Maaori and English version of the New Zealand National Anthem.
The English version is:
God of Nations at thy feet
In the bonds of love we meet
Hear our voices we entreat
God defend our free land
Guard Pacific's triple star
From the shafts of strife and war
Make her praises heard afar
God Defend New Zealand
The Maaori version is:
E Ihowaa Atua
O ngaa iwi maatou raa
Aata whakarongona
Me aroha noa
Kia hua ko te pai
Kia tau too atawhai
Manaakitia mai
Aotearoa