12 September 2025

In this issue, we cover:

• where to find the latest ceremony guidance.
• how to access and use the updated Choice Whiriwhiria video.
• key reminders for confirming attendance and checking photo ID.
• the importance of accurate certificate scanning.
• supporting the use of te reo Māori in oaths and affirmations.

Thank you for your continued commitment to making citizenship ceremonies a welcoming and memorable milestone for new New Zealanders.

Noho ora mai rā, 
Adrian

Livestreaming and recording a citizenship ceremony

Some local authorities may wish to livestream or record citizenship ceremonies to allow friends and family to join events when they cannot attend in person. While citizenship ceremonies are a public event, the Privacy Act 2020 applies to livestreams and recordings.

It is important to be transparent and respectful when filming candidates and guests in attendance. The following should be communicated to those likely to be filmed both prior to and at the event:

• the ceremony is being livestreamed or recorded.
• who maintains the livestream or recording.
• whether the livestream or recording is publicly available.
• where new citizens may access the livestream or recording.
• a disclaimer for new citizens not to display their citizenship certificate details where they might be filmed or photographed.

We encourage local authorities to maintain an option for candidates to attend a citizenship ceremony that is not recorded or livestreamed for those who are not comfortable with being filmed.

Remember to get permission from candidates before using recordings for other purposes. Recordings of citizenship ceremonies must remain apolitical and are not to be used with any political statements or endorsements.

New location of Guidance for Citizenship Ceremonies

The new location for resources to help local authorities to host New Zealand citizenship ceremonies is www.dia.govt.nz/Guidance-for-Citizenship-Ceremonies

On that webpage, you’ll find:

• Planning guide – A summary of the application process and tips for planning and running citizenship ceremonies.
• Example ceremony video – A short video showing what usually happens at a citizenship ceremony.
• Oath and affirmation – The words people say to become citizens, available in both te reo Māori and English, plus a link to hear the Māori version.
• Choice Whiriwhiria video – A video made for councils to help welcome new citizens.
• Choice Whiriwhiria book – A digital book celebrating the commitment new citizens make to New Zealand.
• Choice Whiriwhiria newsletter – Links to past newsletters.

Choice Whiriwhiria video 

A new version of the Choice Whiriwhiria video was made available in February 2025 for download at www.dia.govt.nz/Guidance-for-Citizenship-Ceremonies under the heading "Choice Whiriwhiria video". Make sure your council is using the latest version. Any older versions must be deleted. This special video has been developed for councils to welcome new citizens:

• View on YouTube 
• Download MP4 file. Click on the link and allow a minute or so for the file to download as it is a large file. Once downloaded, go to your desktop's "Download" folder to access the MP4 file. If you have any issues contact CitizenshipCeremonies@dia.govt.nz.

Redirecting ceremony enquiries from candidates

Newly approved candidates may contact their local council directly to enquire about attending an upcoming ceremony. To help manage expectations and ensure fairness, redirect these enquiries to the ceremonies team at CitizenshipCeremonies@dia.govt.nz.

Ceremonies are allocated based on how long candidates have been waiting, so we may not always be able to accommodate requests.

Confirming attendance

Checking photo ID

When candidates arrive, ask to see their photo ID and check that it matches their invitation.

Double-check attendance after the ceremony

Take extra care when scanning certificates for candidates who did not attend the ceremony. This step is important because it helps us keep accurate records of who has officially become a New Zealand citizen.

If a certificate for someone who didn’t attend is accidentally scanned, our system will wrongly show them as a citizen. This can lead to serious consequences, such as:

• their residence visa being cancelled.
• being refused re-entry to Aotearoa if they travel overseas.
• a New Zealand passport being cancelled if it was issued in error.
• missing out on another ceremony invitation, as our records will show they’ve already attended.

If someone doesn’t attend a ceremony within 12 months of being approved, their approval will expire and they’ll need to apply again.

Return scans as soon as you can

New citizens are often eager to apply for their first New Zealand passport. Send us the scanned certificates for non-attendees as soon as possible after the ceremony—especially if anyone has urgent travel plans.

Ensuring te reo Māori oath option is available

Most people who become citizens by grant need to attend a ceremony and take an oath or affirmation to confirm their allegiance to New Zealand.

In recent years, more and more new citizens have chosen to say their oath in te reo Māori. This growing use of te reo Māori is a meaningful way to celebrate our shared national identity and values.

Our customer experience survey shows that some new citizens would have chosen this option if they had known it was available:

• "I wasn't aware that I could take the oaths in Te Reo. Had I known I would have."
• "I also wanted to say the oath in te reo Maori. However, the council CEO only said the oath in English which we were all asked to repeat."

We’ve added information about the te reo Māori oath option to our application forms, confirmation letters, and website.

We appreciate the great work councils are doing to include te reo Māori in citizenship ceremonies. Make sure new citizens know they can say their oath in te reo Māori, and that your team is ready to support this using the resources provided below.

Spoken recording to assist councils with pronunciation 

A spoken recording of the te reo Māori versions of the oath and affirmation is available at www.govt.nz/citizenship. The recording assists councils with the correct pronunciation.