Original: 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 November 21 , 1977 , on equal standing with God Save The Queen .
Simplified: After this was presented to Parliament , Queen Elizabeth II gave permission for it to become New Zealands second national anthem , equal to '' God Save the Queen '' .