Some migrant residents are considering applying for citizenship as soon as possible following Wednesday's announcement of a new citizenship test from 2027.
From late next year, applicants will be quizzed on the responsibilities and privileges of being a citizen, needing to answer at least 15 of 20 questions correctly to pass.
Topics are expected to include the Bill of Rights Act, criminal offences, voting rights, democratic principles and the structure of government.
Wellington-based Victor Wang has been in New Zealand for about 14 years.
As a permanent resident, Wang was hesitant to apply for New Zealand citizenship, as that would mean relinquishing his Chinese citizenship.
China is among some Asian nations that do not allow dual nationality.
"I was struggling quite a bit on that decision, but because of the new policy coming in next year, it's kind of forcing me to apply right now," Wang said.
Victor Wang Photo: Supplied
Wang said the introduction of a citizenship test was a good idea because it could help people understand their rights and responsibilities of what it meant to become a citizen.
However, Wang believed it could introduce additional red tape in the application process as well as further costs.
"If we take the exam, it might [cost] a few hundred [dollars] extra [during the] test phase and administration phase," he said. "It's just some quite unnecessary cost."
Wang believed there was also room for improvement, arguing that exemptions could be given to people who had stayed in the country for more than 10 years or who had local education.
He described the proposed multiple-choice format as flawed.
"It doesn't truly reflect a person's knowledge, completely ignores writing and speaking skills, and leaves room for people to simply guess the right answers," he said.
Ankit Sikka, another permanent resident, also planned to submit a citizenship application as soon as he met the five-year presence requirement next year.
To qualify for citizenship, one needs to show they have been physically present in New Zealand for a certain amount of time.
Sikka, a software engineer at RNZ, said he came to New Zealand from India about 10 years ago.
However, he was out of the country for a period during the Covid-19 pandemic.
"I just felt like it was just another process," he said. "I did not find it something positive for me."
Passing a test doesn't guarantee people would be good citizens, and how they behaved during the time they were here was stronger proof, Sikka said.
"A test just doesn't prove anything," he said. "It's just memorising a few things for the exam. It's just one extra inconvenience in people's lives."
Not knowing exactly when the test would eventually come into effect, Sikka said he would apply as soon as possible so he could avoid the exam.
Ankit Sikka Photo: Supplied
Sikka also worried that the exam might affect people who have different learning abilities.
"I would want to suggest the government not follow other countries blindly, rather customising their own approach," Sikka said.
"For example, they can look for the opportunity of implementing e-learning modules rather than a particular test. I think that is a more convenient way to make people learn those topics and subjects."
Aucklander Jeremy Li, also a permanent resident who plans to apply for citizenship, said the test was a good initiative that could help people understand certain values of the country.
However, Li was concerned the test might be difficult for some people.
He called for the test to be completed in languages other than English.
"Recognising and understanding the country's values is very important for immigrants," he said. "Language is important as well."
Li said migrants could have different language abilities and they might not be able to understand complicated topics in English.
"I think values-based knowledge should be treated as a separate test on its own, allowing migrants to answer in the language they are most comfortable with, whether that's English, Chinese, Japanese, Korean or another language."
Judah Seomeng Photo: Supplied
Judah Seomeng, general manager of refugee support group ChangeMakers Resettlement Forum, said language support would be an important consideration for asylum-seekers eyeing citizenship in future.
Originally from Botswana, Seomeng received his New Zealand citizenship last year.
He said his organisation worked with a lot of refugees, and some of them couldn't read or write.
"I think it's going to be a challenge for some people," he said. "I know there are a lot of people who come from non-English speaking countries and there's a lot of language barrier.
"Some people don't even know how to read their own language, so I don't know how this is going to cater for people like that."
Seomeng could imagine some people failing the test.
"I'm interested to see what the whole picture of the test is going to look like, but I think I hope the element of language support is going to be there," he said.
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