_Sheet_Music.svg) | |
National anthem of New Zealand | |
| Also known as | "Aotearoa" (Māori version) (English: "New Zealand") |
|---|---|
| Lyrics | Thomas Bracken, 1870s (English) Thomas Henry Smith, 1878 (Māori) |
| Music | John Joseph Woods, 1876 |
| Adopted | 1940 (as national hymn) 1977 (as national anthem) |
| Audio sample | |
"God Defend New Zealand" (instrumental) | |
"God Defend New Zealand" (Māori: "Aotearoa",[a] meaning 'New Zealand') is one of two national anthems of New Zealand, the other being "God Save the King". Legally the two have equal status, but "God Defend New Zealand" is more commonly used. Originally written as a poem, it was set to music as part of a competition in 1876. Over the years its popularity increased, and it was eventually named the second national anthem in 1977. It has English and Māori lyrics, with slightly different meanings. Since the late 1990s, the usual practice when performed in public is to perform the first verse of the national anthem twice, first in Māori and then in English.
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