The Waitaki district’s newest New Zealand citizens have been welcomed at a ceremony at the Oamaru Opera House. Twenty-three new citizens from diverse backgrounds, including Czechia, India and Egypt, were sworn in. Waitaki District Mayor Mel Tavendale said it was "an important and special" part of her role to formally acknowledge those who had chosen to make New Zealand their home. "Our district is growing, and diversifying, and it’s thanks to people choosing Waitaki as a place to raise their families," she said. Mrs Tavendale was joined by Councillors Dan Lewis, Sven Thelning, Jim Hopkins and John McCone to present citizenship certificates to the new citizens from 12 different countries. After a waiata by council staff and a welcome from Mrs Tavendale, affirmations and oaths of citizenship were sworn by each family. The new citizens were then presented with a native hebe plant. Minister of Internal Affairs Brooke Van Velden and the Governor-General Dame Cindy Kiro then appeared in a welcome video.…