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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. A national anthem is a generally patriotic musical composition that is formally recognized by a countrys government as their states official national song. ...
God Save the Queen is a patriotic song whose origin remains a matter of speculation. ...
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. New Zealand claims as its own many writers, even those immigrants born overseas or those emigrants who have gone into exile. ...
Thomas Bracken (December 21, 1843 - February 16, 1898), born at Clones, County Monaghan, Ireland, was the noted late 19th century poet who wrote the New Zealand National Anthem and who was the first person to publish the phrase Gods Own Country. ...
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. Elizabeth II (Elizabeth Alexandra Mary Windsor), born 21 April 1926, is the Queen regnant of Australia, Canada, New Zealand, the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland, Jamaica, Barbados, the Bahamas, Grenada, Papua New Guinea, the Solomon Islands, Tuvalu, Saint Lucia, Saint Vincent and the Grenadines, Antigua and Barbuda...
November 21 is the 325th day of the year (326th in leap years) in the Gregorian Calendar. ...
For the album by Ash, see 1977 (album). ...
An alternative official arrangement for massed singing by Maxwell Fernie was announced by the Minister of Internal Affairs on 1 June 1978. The Department of Internal Affairs (MÄori - Te Tari Taiwhenua) is a state sector organisaton of New Zealand whose roles include, but are not limited to, the issue of passports; administration of civil unions, citizenship applications, and lottery grants; enforcement of censorship and gambling law; and registration of births, deaths...
June 1 is the 152nd day of the year in the Gregorian calendar (153rd in leap years), with 213 days remaining. ...
1978 (MCMLXXVIII) was a common year starting on Sunday (the link is to a full 1978 calendar). ...
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). Commonwealth Games is a multi-sport event held every four years involving the elite athletes of The Commonwealth. ...
1950 (MCML) was a common year starting on Sunday (link will take you to calendar). ...
Munich and the Alps Munich (German: München (pronounced listen) is the capital of the German federal state of Bavaria. ...
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. The English language is a West Germanic language that originates in England. ...
Māori (or Maori) is a language spoken by the native peoples of New Zealand and the Cook Islands. ...
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.
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), 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. North Island The North Island is one of the two main islands of New Zealand, the other being the South Island. ...
The South Island The South Island forms one of the two major islands of New Zealand, the other being the North Island. ...
Stewart Island/Rakiura is the third largest island of New Zealand. ...
Speights is a brewery in Dunedin, New Zealand. ...
Alpha Centauri (α Cen / α Centauri) is the brightest star system (a triple star system) in the southern constellation of Centaurus, and contains the fourth brightest star in the night sky, with an apparent visual magnitude of −0. ...
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. Käretu, commissioned in 1979. George Edward Grey Statue of Sir George Grey in Albert Park, Auckland For other men with a similar name, see George Grey or George Gray Sir George Edward Grey KCB (April 14, 1812 - September 19, 1898 ) was a soldier, explorer, Governor of South Australia, twice Governor of New Zealand, Governor...
This latter translation is under New Zealand Crown copyright until 2079. Copyright information is at http://www.cultureandheritage.govt.nz/copy-right.html.
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Image File history File links Gnome-speakernotes. ...
Image File history File links God_Defend_New_Zealand_instrumental. ...
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