FOOC Auckland
Weather this morning calm. The storms that have ravaged Brisbane also passed through here over the past 24 hours. Not to the same intensity but fierce all the same. My little car was blowing all over the road.
Well last night I had my citizenship ceremony. I live just south of Auckland in Manukau City (comparable to one of the Greater rather than Inner London districts). It is a colourful place to live in that it is home to most of NZ's Pacific Island and possibly maori populations. It also houses refugee centres and generally has a huge immigrant population. My figures might be slightly out but the Mayor at last nights ceremony said the district is home to 187 nationalities, worldwide there are only 194?
Anyway, a funny and weird affair it was. 300 of us packed into a stadium with equal numbers of viewers/family supporters. Formal or traditional dress was required. I thought of going as a Pearly Queen but didn't have enough buttons . I would say at least 75% of attendees were from India dressed in vibrant colours, next Fiji and Samoa, in splendid traditional dress. Samoan families often all wear the same material made into male and female attire. Some with tradional straw hats. Lesser numbers of Chinese, a fair splattering of South Africans then a few others like me a Brit.
The cermeony started with a Karakia (Maori prayer) by an eminent leader, swiftly onto a few Waiatas (songs) by a local Maori school with the leader telling the story in maori over the top. Guitars, bare feet and lots of hand waving. Then our Mayor got up and did his bit including not only the usual speech but a few songs - he's known as the singing mayor . Finally we had to stand and state our affirmation or oath, holding a bible, of allegiance to NZ and the Queen, then parade individually across a stage shake hands with the Mayor who engaged everybody in conversation, demanded audience participation for 3 birthdays songs, allowed children to sing cultural songs, shake hands with a local MP, receive certificates and gifts, finally sing the National Anthem in both Maori and English before we were allowed to leave. Nearly 3 hours.
All in all a very mixed affair. I'm almost ashamed to say I was just there for the certificate and passport which I will be sending off for today to make travelling with the family easier (they all have dual nationality). I also felt a bit weird in that a big thing was denouncing your birth citizenship. We are lucky we don't have to surrender our British passports. I realised how 'British' I feel. I couldn't have applied if I had lost my passport, it is my heritage. For some there though, refugees, those who have struggled, those for whom being in NZ gives them opportunity and a better life, the ceremony would have taken on a different perspective. The Samoans took everything very seriously but with a big jolly party atmosphere. Much cheering everytime anybody Samoan was announced, lots of hugs and kisses for the Mayor. I positively thought he was going to drown in one set of boobs, much to his delight. ALl in all a very fine, if werid, affair. And to think dh was sent his citizenship certificate in the post in the UK.
Well signing off for now - as a kiwi .