God Defend New Zealand

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"God Defend New Zealand" is one of the national anthems of New Zealand, together with "God Save the Queen". Although they both have equal status, only "God Defend New Zealand" is used, and most New Zealanders would be unaware that the country has two national anthems. The [New Zealand Ministry for Culture and Heritage] has responsibility for the national anthems.

Contents

1 History
2 Lyrics

2.1 English lyrics
2.2 Māori lyrics

3 Media
4 External links

History

The words for "God Defend New Zealand" were written as a poem in the 1870s by Thomas Bracken. A competition to compose music for the poem was held in 1876, with a prize of ten guineas. The winner of the competition was John Joseph Woods, who composed the melody in a single sitting the evening after finding out about the competition.

The song became increasingly popular during the 19th century and early 20th century, and in 1940 the New Zealand government bought the copyright and made it New Zealand's national hymn in time for that year's centennial celebrations. In 1976 a petition was presented to parliament asking for it to be made the national anthem, and, with the permission of Queen Elizabeth II, it became the country's second national anthem on 21 November 1977.

An alternative official arrangement for massed singing by Maxwell Fernie was announced by the Minister of Internal Affairs on 1 June 1978.

While being used as New Zealand's national anthem at the British Empire Games from 1950 onward, it was first used at the Olympic Games in 1972 (Munich).

Lyrics

"God Defend New Zealand" has five verses, each in English and translated into Māori. Commonly, only the first verse is sung, in English or in Māori, followed by the same verse in the other language. The second and last English verses may also be sung, but the third and fourth are rarely used.

English lyrics

God of Nations at Thy feet,
In the bonds of love we meet,
Hear our voices, we entreat,
God defend our free land.
Guard Pacific's triple star,
From the shafts of strife and war,
Make her praises heard afar,
God defend New Zealand.

Men of ev'ry creed and race,
Gather here before Thy face,
Asking Thee to bless this place,
God defend our free land.
From dissension, envy, hate,
And corruption guard our State,
Make our country good and great,
God defend New Zealand.

Peace, not war, shall be our boast,
But, should foes assail our coast,
Make us then a mighty host,
God defend our free land.
Lord of battles, in Thy might,
Put our enemies to flight,
Let our cause be just and right,
God defend New Zealand.

Let our love for Thee increase,
May Thy blessings never cease,
Give us plenty, give us peace,
God defend our free land.
From dishonour and from shame,
Guard our country's spotless name,
Crown her with immortal fame,
God defend New Zealand.

May our mountains ever be
Freedom's ramparts on the sea,
Make us faithful unto thee,
God defend our free land.
Guide her in the nations' van,
Preaching love and truth to man,
Working out Thy Glorious plan,
God defend New Zealand.

There is some discussion, with no official explanation, of the meaning of "Pacific's triple star". Unofficial explanations range from New Zealand's three biggest islands (North, South, and Stewart Island/Rakiura), to the three stars on the Speight's beer logo. A possibility is that Bracken was referring to Alpha Centauri, the brightest triple-star system in the southern constellation of Centaurus, which contains the fourth-brightest star in the sky.

Māori lyrics

E Ihowā Atua,
O ngā iwi mātou rā
Āta whakarongona;
Me aroha noa
Kia hua ko te pai;
Kia tau tō atawhai;
Manaakitia mai
Aotearoa

Ōna mano tāngata
Kiri whero, kiri mā,
Iwi Māori Pākehā,
Rūpeke katoa,
Nei ka tono ko ngā hē
Māu e whakaahu kē,
Kia ora mārire
Aotearoa

Tōna mana kia tū!
Tōna kaha kia ū;
Tōna rongo hei pakū
Ki te ao katoa
Aua rawa ngā whawhai
Ngā tutū a tata mai;
Kia tupu nui ai
Aotearoa

Waiho tona takiwā
Ko te ao mārama;
Kia whiti tōna rā
Taiāwhio noa.
Ko te hae me te ngangau
Meinga kia kore kau;
Waiho i te rongo mau
Aotearoa

Tōna pai me toitū
Tika rawa, pono pū;
Tōna noho, tana tū;
Iwi nō Ihowā.
Kaua mōna whakamā;
Kia hau te ingoa;
Kia tū hei tauira;
Aotearoa

At least two Māori versions have been produced. The first was by Thomas H. Smith of Auckland, a judge in the Native Land Court, on request of Governor George Edward Grey in 1878, and the second (above) by former Māori Language Commissioner, Professor Timoti S. Kāretu, commissioned in 1979.

This latter translation is under New Zealand Crown copyright until 2079. Copyright information is at [http://www.cultureandheritage.govt.nz/copy-right.html].

Media

[Instrumental] ([file info])
Problems playing the files? See .

External links

[MIDI file and sheet music]
[Official website for NZ's national anthem]
[Page about the national anthem] includes a recording by the New Zealand Symphony Orchestra

National anthems of Oceania and the Pacific Islands

National anthems: Australia • Cook Islands • Federated States of Micronesia • Fiji • Kiribati • Marshall Islands • Nauru • New Zealand • Niue • Palau • Papua New Guinea • Samoa • Solomon Islands • Tonga • Tuvalu • Vanuatu

Regional anthems: American Samoa • French Polynesia • Guam • Hawaii • New Caledonia • Northern Mariana Islands • Wake Island • Wallis and Futuna

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