God Defend New Zealand

God Defend New Zealand
Title in German	God save New Zealand
country	New Zealand
Usage period	1940 - today
text	Thomas Bracken
melody	John Joseph Woods
Sheet of music
Audio files

Plaque from the New Zealand Historic Places Trust at the location of the premiere of God Defend New Zealand

God Defend New Zealand is - on a par with God Save the Queen  - one of the national anthems of New Zealand .

The English text is from Thomas Bracken (1843–1898). The melody was composed in 1876 by John Joseph Woods (1849-1934).

On official occasions, only the first stanza (first in Māori, then in English) is sung.

The Māori version, however, is not a direct translation of the English version.

God Defend New Zealand (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 dishonor 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.

mch.govt.nz

God Defend New Zealand (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

mch.govt.nz

German translation of the English version (God protect New Zealand)

God of the nations at your feet,
in the bond of love we meet,
hear our voices, we ask you,
God protect our free land.
Guard the Pacific triumvirate,
Against the spears of strife and war,
Let its praise be heard from afar,
God protect New Zealand.

People of every faith and every race,
gather here in front of your face,
ask you to bless this place,
God protect our free land. Guard our state from
discord, envy, hatred
and corruption,
make our country good and great,
God protect New Zealand.

Peace, not war, should be our glory,
But, should enemies attack our coast,
make a mighty army out of us,
God protect our free land.
Lord of the battles fight with your might,
our enemies to flight,
let our striving be just and right,
God protect New Zealand.

Let our love for you increase,
May your blessings never run out,
give us wealth, give us peace,
God protect our free land. Guard our country's immaculate reputation from
dishonor and shame
,
crown it with undying glory,
God protect New Zealand.

May our mountains be eternal To
freedom protective walls over the sea,
make us loyal to you,
God protect our free land.
Lead it in the vanguard of the nations,
preaching love and truth to the people,
carrying out your glorious plan,
God save New Zealand.

German translation of the Moronic version

O Lord God of
all people,
hear us,
love us,
that good may flourish,
that your blessings may come upon us,
defend New Zealand.

Let all people,
red skin, white skin,
Māori, Pākehā,
come together before you,
that all our sins, as we asked,
may be forgiven,
so that we may live long,
New Zealand.

That it may always be respected,
that it
may endure , that its fame may ring widely,
let neither dispute
nor disagreement ensue,
that it may be great,
New Zealand, forever .

Let his lands
always be enlightened,
let
envy and disagreement be
eliminated there,
let peace reign
in New Zealand.

Let his good endure,
righteousness and honesty rule, never let him be ashamed
among the peoples of God
,
but let his name be known
and let others emulate us,
New Zealand.

copyright

The copyright for the English texts of "God Defend New Zealand" expired 50 years after the death of the author (Bracken), ie from January 1, 1949. The rights to the score were passed to the public in the 1980s.

See also

• List of national anthems

Web links

• Audio stream of the national anthem of New Zealand (Real Player; 0 kB)
• "Homepage" of the New Zealand anthem. Different versions in * .mp3 and * .rm format

Individual evidence

1. ^ ^{A b} God Defend New Zealand / Aotearoa . Ministry for Culture & Heritage , November 30, 2017, accessed September 11, 2018 .  
2. ^ Copyright Act 1994 - Duration of copyright . In: New Zealand Legislation . Parliamentary Counsel Office , December 15, 1994, accessed January 1, 2020 .