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
Freedoms 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. 

---
MAORI LYRICS

E Ihowä Atua,
O ngä iwi mätou rä
Äta whakarongona;
Me aroha noa
Kia hua ko te pai;
Kia tau tö atawhai;
Manaakitia mai
Aotearoa 

Öna mano tängata
Kiri whero, kiri mä,
Iwi Mäori Päkehä,
Repeke katoa,
Nei ka tono ko ngä hë
Mäu e whakaahu kë,
Kia ora märire
Aotearoa 

Töna mana kia tü!
Töna kaha kia ü;
Töna rongo hei pakü
Ki te ao katoa
Aua rawa ngä whawhai
Ngä tutü a tata mai;
Kia tupu nui ai
Aotearoa 

Waiho tona takiwä
Ko te ao märama;
Kia whiti töna rä
Taiäwhio noa.
Ko te hae me te ngangau
Meinga kia kore kau;
Waiho i te rongo mau
Aotearoa 

Töna pai me toitü
Tika rawa, ponu pü;
Töna noho, tana tü;
Iwi nö Ihowä.
Kaua möna whakamä;
Kia hau te ingoa;
Kia tü hei tauira;
Aotearoa 

---
ENGLISH TRANSLATION

O Lord, God, 
Of all people
Listen to us, 
Cherish us
May good flourish, 
May your blessings flow
Defend Aotearoa

Let all people, 
Red skin, white skin
Mäori, Päkehä
Gather before you
May all our wrongs, we pray,
Be forgiven
So that we might say long live
Aotearoa

May it be forever prestigious,
May it go from strength to strength,
May its fam spread far and wide,
Let not strife
Nor dissention ensue,
May it ever be great
Aotearoa

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

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

-------------------------

New Zealand
"God Defend New Zealand"
& "God Save the Queen"

God Defend New Zealand:
Words by:Thomas Bracken (English), Thomas Henry Smith (Maori)
Music by:John Joseph Woods
Adopted:1940 (national hymn), 1977 (co-national anthem)

God Save the Queen:
Adopted:1840

New Zealand holds a unique position in the world in that it has two national
anthems of equal standing - "God Defend New Zealand" and "God Save The Queen".
(The lone other example in the world is Denmark, where the royal and national
anthems have equal status in the country.)

"God Defend New Zealand" was written by Irish-born poet and New Zealand citizen
Thomas Bracken in 1870, and the music composed by John Joseph Woods as a result
of a newspaper contest in 1876. (Woods actually composed the music in one
sitting, starting as soon as he read about the contest and not resting until he
was finished.) Gaining popularity in the first half of the twentieth century,
it was adopted as New Zealand's national song in 1940 (New Zealand's centennial
year), but "God Save the Queen" remained the sole national anthem. A petition
in 1976 prompted the government to seek royal assent to make "God Defend New
Zealand" as a national anthem on equal status with "God Save the Queen". This
was signed into law by the Queen on November 21, 1977.

The Maori words, officially translated numerous times, are made to fit the
melody. As such, they don't translate exactly to the English lyrics. A
translation of the official Maori lyrics is provided with the text linked
below.

God_Save_the_Queen has been New Zealand's official anthem since 1840, when she
became a British colony. The second verse, which is in a more militaristic
vein, and the third verse, have been replaced in New Zealand with a
"Commonwealth_verse", usually used when more than one stanza is needed. Despite
being declared an "official anthem" by the New Zealand government, along with
"God Defend New Zealand", "God Save the Queen" is rarely sung in the country,
"God Defend New Zealand" is more common.

Also used in:Tokleau.

See also: Cook_Islands, Niue.
