New Zealand's National Anthems
Introduction
'National songs, ballads and hymns have a tendency to elevate the character of a people and keep alive the fire of patriotism in their breasts'. The Saturday Advertiser and New Zealand Literary Miscellany, 1 July 1876
New Zealand holds a rare position in the world in that it has two national anthems of equal standing - 'God Defend New Zealand' and 'God Save The Queen'. Both of these anthems have origins which have been inspired by the fire of patriotism yet were written under markedly different situations.
God Defend New Zealand / Aotearoa
Māori Version
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
English Version
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.
Sound files of 'God Defend New Zealand'
Below you can download and play two very different versions of the anthem performed by the National Youth Choir and Frankie Stevens. Please let us know if you have any problems accessing these sound files.
New Zealand National Youth Choir
Aotearoa / God Defend New Zealand (1.8 mb)
Live recording from the New Zealand National Youth Choir 'On Tour' North America 1994 album, Ode Record Company Ltd, Auckland, 1994. Arrangement by Guy Jansen
Frankie Stevens
Aotearoa / God Defend New Zealand (2.5mb)
Recording made for the Department of Internal Affairs by Frankie Stevens.
New Zealand National Youth Orchestra
Aotearoa / God Defend New Zealand (740k)
From Radio New Zealand compilation of 'God Defend New Zealand' (1977). Arrangement by Ashley Heenan.
Musical score for 'God Defend New Zealand'
From Supplement to the New Zealand Gazette of Thursday, 31 May 1979
Announcement of alternative arrangements of the National Anthem God Defend New Zealand for general use.
Recognising the difficulties which could be experienced in the singing or playing of the national anthem God Defend New Zealand by the general public, new arrangements of this anthem have been commissioned from Mr A. Maxwell Fernie.
The original score composed in 1875 by Mr J.J. Woods in A flat (concert pitch) lent itself best to solo or choral singing but was not most appropriate for general or massed singing, bearing present tastes in music in mind.
The new arrangements allow for a strong presentation at a reasonable pace. One is more suitable for massed singing, the other for choral work.
The commissioning and publication of these arrangements is intended to enhance the presentation of the national anthem for general purposes. They should not be regarded as the only arrangements suitable for all occasions.
D.A. Highet,
Minister of Internal Affairs.
Downloads of score
The score has been provided in a screen version and a higher quality (but larger download) print version. These images have been scanned directly from the NZ Gazette.
- Screen version of score
- Higher quality print version (zip file - 831k)
God Save the Queen
- God save our gracious Queen,
Long live our noble Queen,
God save The Queen.
Send her victorious,
Happy and glorious,
Long to reign over us:
God save The Queen. - O Lord our God, arise,
Scatter our enemies,
And make them fall;
Confound their politics,
Frustrate their knavish tricks;
On thee our hopes we fix:
God save us all. - Thy choicest gifts in store
On her be pleased to pour,
Long may she reign.
May she defend our laws,
And ever give us cause
To sing with heart and voice,
God save The Queen.
Note: The second verse of 'God Save The Queen' is commonly omitted.
