"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, "God Defend New Zealand" is the anthem that is in common use.
History
The words for "God Defend New Zealand" were written as a poem in the 1870s by Irish immigrant Thomas Bracken of Dunedin, a freemason. 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 of Lawrence, New Zealand 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. While being used as New Zealand's national anthem at the British Empire Games from 1950 onward, it was first officially used at the Olympic Games in 1972 in Munich. Following the performance at the Munich games, a campaign began to have the song adopted as the national anthem.[1]
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. Up until then God Save The Queen was New Zealand's national anthem.[1]
An alternative official arrangement for massed singing by Maxwell Fernie was announced by the Minister of Internal Affairs, Allan Highet on June 1, 1978.
Protocol
The New Zealand Ministry for Culture and Heritage has responsibility for the national anthems. The Ministry's guidance for choosing which anthem should be presented on any occasion advises that "'God Save The Queen' would be specially appropriate at any occasion where Her Majesty The Queen, or a member of the Royal Family, or the Governor-General, when within New Zealand, is officially present or when loyalty to the crown is to be stressed, while 'God Defend New Zealand' would be specially appropriate whenever the national identity of New Zealand is to be stressed even in association with a toast to Her Majesty as Queen of New Zealand." [1]
Lyrics
"God Defend New Zealand" has five verses, each in English and translated into Māori.
Commonly, only the first verse of each version is sung, usually in Māori first, then in English. However, it has been known to be sung English first.
The second and last English verses may also be sung, but the third and fourth are rarely used.
Current English Version
| New Zealand National Anthem: "God Defend New Zealand" |
- 1
- 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.
|
Maori Version
| Maori Version of New Zealand National Anthem: "Aotearoa" |
- 1
- E Ihoā Atua,
- O ngā iwi mātou rā;
- Āta whakarongona,
- Me aroha noa;
- Kia hua ko te pai
- Kia tau to ata whai;
- Manaakitia mai
- Aotearoa
|
Extended English Version
| Extended English Version of New Zealand National Anthem: "God Defend New Zealand" |
- 1
- 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
- 2
- 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
- 3
- Peace, not war, shall be our boast
- But should our 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
- 4
- 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
- 5
- 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
|
Extended Maori Version
| Extended Maori Version of New Zealand National Anthem: "Aotearoa" |
- 1
- 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
- 2
- 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
- 3
- 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
- 4
- 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
|
Copyright on the English lyrics for "God Defend New Zealand" expired in 1948, 50 years after the death of the author.
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), the three stars on the shield of the New Zealand Anglican Church to the three stars on the flag of Te Kooti (a Māori political and religious leader of the 19th century) [2]. Another explanation is that Bracken was referring to Alpha Centauri, the brightest triple-star system in the southern constellation of Centaurus, but this seems dubious since that system's third star (Proxima Centauri) was not discovered until 1915. There is also a joke that the phrase "Pacific's Triple Star" refers to the three stars on the Speight's beer logo, and T-shirts can be purchased especially in the South Island with the line "Guard Pacific's Triple Star" above the three Speight's stars.
The Māori language version was produced in 1878 by Thomas H. Smith of Auckland, a judge in the Native Land Court, on request of Governor George Edward Grey, and in 1979 this was back-translated into English by former Māori Language Commissioner, Professor Timoti S. Kāretu.
Kāretu's back-translation is under New Zealand Crown copyright until 2079. Copyright information is at http://www.cultureandheritage.govt.nz/copy-right.
References
External links
Wikisource has original text related to this article:
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