Cheers: Alicia Wiremu and Te Rakataha-Robert Wiremu. Picture: Luke Fuda
LIVERPOOL'S Te Rakataha-Robert Wiremu left New Zealand for Australia 14 years ago.
This Australia Day he will become an Australian citizen.
Mr Wiremu came here to find work and was given permanent residency.
His first job was running behind trucks collecting bins, then he became a truck driver.
Both of his children were born here and, because they're Australian citizens, he thought it would benefit his family if he became one too.
"Then I can say I'm a citizen like they are," he said.
Mr Wiremu's wife Alicia is a temporary Australian resident and also from New Zealand.
But there are no plans for her to become a citizen.
Mr Wiremu sees many similarities between Australia and New Zealand, especially where the law is concerned.
However, one of the biggest differences for him is the amount of opportunities in Australia.
"There's more opportunities here for me than what New Zealand's got," he said.
Mr Wiremu said it was likely that he, Alicia and daughter Lily would return to live in New Zealand one day, as that was where his son and relatives lived.
"The big thing back in New Zealand is family," he said.
Meanwhile, he's happy making the most of what life throws at him and his family in Australia.