God Defend New Zealand

**National anthem of  New Zealand**

"**God Defend New Zealand**" is one of the two national anthems of New Zealand, the other being "God Save the King". It was originally a poem written by Thomas Bracken in the 1870s until it was set to music by John Joseph Woods as part a competition for ten guineas in 1876. Two years later, Thomas Henry Smith wrote the lyrics in Māori—one of the country's official languages. The anthem was adopted in 1977.

## Lyrics

According to copyright law of New Zealand, the English lyrics are no longer copyrighted since the beginning of 1949 or the end of the 50-year mark of Bracken's death, and since the 1980s, the rights to the musical score are in the public domain.

It is called "**Aotearoa**" in Māori, which literally translates to 'New Zealand'. The meaning of the Māori lyrics are slightly different from the 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 every 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.

E Ihowā Atua,
O ngā iwi mātou rā
Āta whakarangona;
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 e 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, tāna tū;
Iwi nō Ihowā.
Kaua mōna whakamā;
Kia hau te ingoa;
Kia tū hei tauira;
Aotearoa

O Lord, God,
Of all people
Listen to us,
Cherish us
May goodness flourish,
May your blessings flow
Defend us
New Zealand

Let all people,
Red-skinned or white-skinned,
Māori or Pākehā
Gather before you
May all our wrongs, we pray,
Be forgiven
Live in peace
New Zealand

May it be forever prestigious,
May it go from strength to strength,
May its fame spread far and wide,
To the whole world
Let not strife
Nor dissension ensue,
May it ever be great
New Zealand

Let its territory
Be ever enlightened
Throughout the land
Circling here
Let envy and dissension
Be dispelled,
Let peace reign over
Aotearoa

Let its good features endure,
Let righteousness and honesty prevail
Be standing, be sitting
Among the people of God
Let it never be ashamed,
But rather, let its name be known
Thereby becoming the model to emulate
Aotearoa

## References

1. ↑ 1.0 1.1 Bracken, Thomas 1843 – 1898 (2007-06-22). Broughton, W.S. Dictionary of New Zealand Biography. Ministry for Culture and Heritage.
2. ↑ National anthems: History of God Defend New Zealand. *Ministry for Culture and Heritage* (23 March 2015).
3. ↑ Copyright Act 1994 No 143 (1 March 2017). Public Act Contents. *Legislation.govt.nz*. Parliamentary Counsel Office. Retrieved 7 September 2017.
4. ↑ National anthems – New Zealand's anthems. Swarbrick, Nancy (June 2012). Te Ara: The Encyclopedia of New Zealand. Retrieved 18 October 2017.
5. ↑ 5.0 5.1 https://mch.govt.nz/nz-identity-heritage/national-anthems/god-defend-new-zealandaotearoa *National anthems: God Defend New Zealand/Aotearoa*. Ministry for Culture and Heritage. 25 March 2015. Retrieved 15 August 2015.
6. ↑ E Ihowa atua: "Triple Star". *Folksong.org.nz*. [Contains the English translation of the Māori lyrics.]