Kia ora Joyce,

Thank you for your enquiry.

We appreciate that the ceremony is an important part of being granted New Zealand citizenship.

Under Covid-19 related health restrictions, the requirement to attend a ceremony was waived to ensure that people could still become citizens and did not have to wait indefinitely until ceremonies could resume.

If you have received your certificate via mail, you are already a citizen, and will not be retrospectively invited to a ceremony.

For applicants who have not received their certificate by mail, the ceremony must be attended to finalise their citizenship. We are not able to add those who are already citizens to the invitation list as others would then have to wait longer to become a citizen.

Ngā mihi,
Erin
Service Advice & Support Team
Mauri o te Tangata | Services and Access
Te Tari Taiwhenua | Department of Internal Affairs

-----Original Message-----
From: Joyce <[FOI #20559 email]>
Sent: Wednesday, 14 September 2022 7:13 pm
To: OIA <[email address]>
Subject: Official Information request - Citizenship Ceremony to those who received their certificate via mail before August 2022

[You don't often get email from [FOI #20559 email]. Learn why this is important at https://aka.ms/LearnAboutSenderIdentific... ]

Dear Department of Internal Affairs,

I'm Joyce, recently granted New Zealand Citizenship effective on the 16th of August 2022 I have also received my citizenship certificate via mail. Unfortunately, due to covid restrictions citizenship ceremony was cancelled but I saw on the DIA website that the Citizenship Ceremonies resumed on the 1st of August 2022 but ONLY to those who have been approved after the 1st August and have not received their certificates via mail.

I would like to request to join the Citizenship Ceremony to be able to take the Oath of Allegiance. I do believe that taking the oath of allegiance is a significant part of becoming a New Zealand Citizen, as this is the ceremony that will welcome and confirm that I am now officially a New Zealand Citizen.

To be given an opportunity to attend the citizenship ceremony is an important event for me, as this will also be a major celebration of the milestone that I've achieved.

I'm hoping that you will consider my request or be given the opportunity to attend the Citizenship Ceremony here in Auckland.

Yours faithfully,

Joyce

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