Story: History of immigration

Citizenship ceremony, 1993

Citizenship ceremony, 1993

From 1977 until 1990 New Zealand’s poor economy drove far more people overseas than it attracted. Yet there were some significant newcomers, including Fiji Indians and Sri Lankans, both of whom emigrated to avoid political difficulties in their home countries. This Sri Lankan woman, Pathmasini Rajasingham, is receiving her certificate of New Zealand citizenship from the minister of internal affairs, Graeme Lee. She had arrived in New Zealand five years earlier.

Using this item

Alexander Turnbull Library, Dominion Post Collection (PAColl-7327)
Reference: EP/1993/2926-F

Permission of the Alexander Turnbull Library, National Library of New Zealand, Te Puna Mātauranga o Aotearoa, must be obtained before any re-use of this image.

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How to cite this page:

Jock Phillips, 'History of immigration - Many leave, fewer arrive: 1975 to 1991', Te Ara - the Encyclopedia of New Zealand, http://www.TeAra.govt.nz/en/photograph/2159/citizenship-ceremony-1993 (accessed 24 April 2024)

Story by Jock Phillips, published 8 Feb 2005, updated 1 Aug 2015