Oath of Citizenship (New Zealand)
Encyclopedia
The purpose of the Oath of Citizenship, as opposed to the Oath of Allegiance
, is for new New Zealand
citizens to pledge their loyalty not only to the New Zealand Sovereign
, Queen Elizabeth II, as the personification of the State and the personal symbol of allegiance, but also to the laws and customs of their new country. The Oath
, recited by citizenship
recipients in New Zealand, is as follows:
The oath of citizenship in Māori
(known as Te Oati Haumi) is as follows (without macrons):
is approved, applicants are required to attend a public citizenship ceremony. The idea of citizenship ceremonies began in 1954 when the New Zealand government decided that the oath of allegiance sworn at the citizenship ceremony should be taken with due solemnity. It was ‘essential that any ceremony be restrained and dignified if it is not to become embarrassing’ to the New Zealanders involved, who would naturally be ‘conservative and unemotional in the matter of public display of feeling’. Since 1955, groups of new citizens have publicly sworn allegiance to the Queen and loyalty to New Zealand by oath or affirmation.
The public ceremony is a very important step in the process of becoming a New Zealand citizen. It is an opportunity for new citizens to publicly declare their allegiance to their new country and for the local community to welcome them on behalf of all New Zealanders. Here, applicants stand before an official person (normally the local Mayor
) and take the Oath or Affirmation of Allegiance.
In doing so, applicants declare that they applicants will honour Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II, Queen of New Zealand, obey the laws of New Zealand and be a good citizen. It is only after swearing allegiance that applicants become a New Zealand citizen, and are presented with a Citizenship Certificate from the local mayor. New citizens then join in the singing of ‘God defend New Zealand’ before enjoying a cup of tea or glass of wine, normally following the Loyal Toast
.
In Māori (called Te Whakautanga Haumi), this is (without macrons),
Oath of Allegiance (New Zealand)
The New Zealand Oath of Allegiance is defined by the Oaths and Declarations Act 1957. All Oaths can be taken in either Māori or English form. It is possible to take a affirmation, which has the same legal effect as an Oath.-Oath:...
, is for new New Zealand
New Zealand
New Zealand is an island country in the south-western Pacific Ocean comprising two main landmasses and numerous smaller islands. The country is situated some east of Australia across the Tasman Sea, and roughly south of the Pacific island nations of New Caledonia, Fiji, and Tonga...
citizens to pledge their loyalty not only to the New Zealand Sovereign
Monarchy in New Zealand
The monarchy of New Zealand also referred to as The Crown in Right of New Zealand, Her Majesty in Right of New Zealand, or The Queen in Right of New Zealand is the constitutional system of government in which a hereditary monarch is the sovereign and head of state of the Realm of New Zealand,...
, Queen Elizabeth II, as the personification of the State and the personal symbol of allegiance, but also to the laws and customs of their new country. The Oath
Oath
An oath is either a statement of fact or a promise calling upon something or someone that the oath maker considers sacred, usually God, as a witness to the binding nature of the promise or the truth of the statement of fact. To swear is to take an oath, to make a solemn vow...
, recited by citizenship
Citizenship
Citizenship is the state of being a citizen of a particular social, political, national, or human resource community. Citizenship status, under social contract theory, carries with it both rights and responsibilities...
recipients in New Zealand, is as follows:
|
The oath of citizenship in Māori
Maori language
Māori or te reo Māori , commonly te reo , is the language of the indigenous population of New Zealand, the Māori. It has the status of an official language in New Zealand...
(known as Te Oati Haumi) is as follows (without macrons):
|
Citizenship ceremony
When an application for New Zealand citizenshipNew Zealand nationality law
New Zealand citizenship was created on 1 January 1949 by the British Nationality and New Zealand Citizenship Act 1948...
is approved, applicants are required to attend a public citizenship ceremony. The idea of citizenship ceremonies began in 1954 when the New Zealand government decided that the oath of allegiance sworn at the citizenship ceremony should be taken with due solemnity. It was ‘essential that any ceremony be restrained and dignified if it is not to become embarrassing’ to the New Zealanders involved, who would naturally be ‘conservative and unemotional in the matter of public display of feeling’. Since 1955, groups of new citizens have publicly sworn allegiance to the Queen and loyalty to New Zealand by oath or affirmation.
The public ceremony is a very important step in the process of becoming a New Zealand citizen. It is an opportunity for new citizens to publicly declare their allegiance to their new country and for the local community to welcome them on behalf of all New Zealanders. Here, applicants stand before an official person (normally the local Mayor
Mayor
In many countries, a Mayor is the highest ranking officer in the municipal government of a town or a large urban city....
) and take the Oath or Affirmation of Allegiance.
In doing so, applicants declare that they applicants will honour Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II, Queen of New Zealand, obey the laws of New Zealand and be a good citizen. It is only after swearing allegiance that applicants become a New Zealand citizen, and are presented with a Citizenship Certificate from the local mayor. New citizens then join in the singing of ‘God defend New Zealand’ before enjoying a cup of tea or glass of wine, normally following the Loyal Toast
Loyal toast
A loyal toast is a salute given to the head of state of the country in which a formal gathering is being given, or by expatriates of that country, whether or not the particular head of state is present. It is usually a matter of protocol at state and military occasions, and a display of patriotic...
.
Affirmation of Allegiance
For those who object to adding ‘God’ to the end of an oath, may chose to take the Affirmation of Allegiance
|
In Māori (called Te Whakautanga Haumi), this is (without macrons),
|
See also
- New Zealand nationality lawNew Zealand nationality lawNew Zealand citizenship was created on 1 January 1949 by the British Nationality and New Zealand Citizenship Act 1948...
- Monarchy in New ZealandMonarchy in New ZealandThe monarchy of New Zealand also referred to as The Crown in Right of New Zealand, Her Majesty in Right of New Zealand, or The Queen in Right of New Zealand is the constitutional system of government in which a hereditary monarch is the sovereign and head of state of the Realm of New Zealand,...
- Oath of Allegiance (New Zealand)Oath of Allegiance (New Zealand)The New Zealand Oath of Allegiance is defined by the Oaths and Declarations Act 1957. All Oaths can be taken in either Māori or English form. It is possible to take a affirmation, which has the same legal effect as an Oath.-Oath:...