New Kiwis quite at home in Wairarapa | Wairarapa News | Local News in Wairarapa

Ten people, from backgrounds as diverse as Fiji, Sri Lanka, and Britain were granted New Zealand citizenship at a ceremony in Masterton Town Hall on Thursday.

Medical Radiation Technologists Tausie Munivae and Sunita Malini came to New Zealand from Suva in 2003 seeking a better life.

Mr Munivae said he loved Masterton and his family jumped at a chance to become full-fledged New Zealanders after Fiji's government recently allowed dual citizenship.

While he said Fiji was lovely, the living was hard, and he now not only had more money to spend on his family but to send back home.

Mr Munivae started out in Auckland until he became a registered technician before moving to Masterton three months later.

"Moving from Fiji to Auckland I found life was too fast for me there. I saw Masterton as a better place to raise my kids."

Not long after that Mr Munivae's wife and son joined him in the town - but Ms Malini had her doubts at first.

"When I first heard about Masterton I said what's it like?"

However, after coming over the hill from Wellington ("far too cold and windy") she fell in love with the Wairarapa landscape and people.

Richard Tredwell and his wife came to New Zealand after the couple finished a 22-year contract with the British military.

Mr Tredwell now runs an 80- acre farm in Masterton and works as the liaison officer for Taratahi Agricultural Training Centre.

His wife, Carmen, said after six years in the country they felt a sense of ownership and responsibility to become citizens in a place they loved.

"I think Wairarapa is the jewel in the crown of New Zealand and a lot of people don't realise that," she said.